The 2012 Paralympic Games kicked off in spectacular fashion this morning with a dazzling opening ceremony welcoming approximately 4200 athletes from 165 countries.

Sir Philip Craven, the President of the International Paralympic Committee, and Lord Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, inspired the athletes and millions around the globe with their words, saying the performances at the Games will inspire the world, and show what is possible through sport.

The Games will take place over 11 days of competition, closing on September 9th, with 28 sports being contested. A total of 43 NSWIS athletes are set to compete in London across 11 sports, with five gold medals up for grabs on the opening day of events.

NSWIS cyclists Alexandra Green and Jayme Paris begin their campaigns with the women's C4/5 individual pursuit and C1/2/3 individual pursuit, respectively, while four NSWIS athletes battle it out in the pool for Paralympic glory. Reagan Wickens aims for gold in the men's S6 100m backstroke; Beijing gold medallist Katrina Porter lines up in the women's S7 100m backstroke, along with fellow NSWIS athlete Jacqueline Freney, and 13 year old Maddison Elliott, Australia's youngest competitor, competes in the first of her seven events, the women's S8 100m butterfly.