Zhang Yimou said he was deeply stirred when he watched the performance of the "Thousand Hand Bodhisattva" at the Athens 2004 Paralymic Closing Ceremony.

After becoming general director of the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Zhang has worked with many actors and actresses with a disability. He has been moved each time he watches the rehearsal for the Paralympic Opening Ceremony. "You will really have a better understanding of the meaning of life itself. We talk a lot about the meaning of life in vague terms, but you will have the real feelings when you watch the performance of the disabled persons," said Zhang.

In the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games, "Hello, Stars," performed by deaf artists, will impress hundreds of millions of viewers with the unison of their performances. Around the stage, sign language teachers will be stationed to prompt the actions of the performers. "I always view the language teachers as a very unique landscape. The perfect collaboration between the teachers and the performers conveys the communication of their inner feelings and fully demonstrates the concept of "people with a disability and able-bodied people go together hand in hand," which the creative teams for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies aims to do.

The Opening Ceremony on September 6 aims to convey the joy of life. "One should live happily no matter what," said Zhang.

(BOCOG September 7, 2008)