The opening ceremony was titled "Breaking the Ice" and centered on breaking down barriers and celebrating Russian culture.[2] It opened with a rhythmic dance featuring 126 performers dressed in the colors of the Russian flag. Russian dance and music were featured throughout, as performances were interspersed with animated segments featuring drawings of the firebird, a staple of Russian mythology, by Alexander Petrov. Tchaikovsky's "Sugar Plum Fairy" and an homage to ice fishing were among the performances.[3] Many of the show's 2500 performers were disabled, including singer Yuliya Samoylova who led the choir in a performance of "Together".[2]
During his speech at the opening ceremony International Paralympic Committee president Philip Craven noted that Russia had declined to host the 1980 Paralympics in conjunction with the 1980 Summer Olympics, making this the first time Russia has hosted the games.[3] He called on spectators to have "barrier-free mind" just as "the city of Sochi has built a barrier-free environment for athletes and officials to enjoy". Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the games open, drawing loud cheers. Russian Paralympians Olesya Vladykina and Sergey Shilov shared the honor of lighting the Paralympic torch.[2] The opening ceremony ended with a video that spoke out against discrimination.[3]
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