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The Special Olympics 2011 were opened with an official ceremony at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, sending worldwide a message of respect for those who are different and for an equal opportunity for all.

Ten thousand athletes and members of delegations from 183 countries paraded in their national colors under the applause of the audience which a little earlier had started the countdown and burst into applause when the stadium was illuminated by the fireworks.

Especially warm was the welcome to the Greek and Cypriot delegations on their entry into the stadium. In particular, at the end of the parade when the numerous Greek delegation entered the stadium, spectators stood up clapping and chanting, encouraging the athletes who greeted the crowd waving their white-blue hats.

Representatives of the Organization for the preservation of the traditions, dressed in traditional national costumes, accompanied the Greek athletes.

Later the Greek flag was also introduced which was held by four athletes from the Paralympics and four Olympic champions, in the presence of President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias and the President of the Organizing Committee Yana Despotopoulou.

 The Greek flag was held by Sofia Bekatorou, Vasilis Polimeros, Voula Patoulidou and Michalis Mouroutsos accompanied by Olga Vasdeki and Kleia Pandazi, and units from the Navy stood along the stage.

Then followed the raising of the flag and a children's choir sang the national anthem.

The eyes of viewers were riveted by the impressive performance, based on the "Theogony" by Hesiod, in which took part 256 dancers, while the lead character of Eros was played by the basketball player from the Paraolympics Ilias Dzafas.

The performance symbolized the birth of Eros from the chaos who invited the representatives of the Special Olympics from all around the world with one shell. Then came the turn of the unique performance of the song Beautiful Things by the world famous Greek tenor Mario Frangoulis.

In the opening ceremony which drew the interest of millions of viewers worldwide, created by the choreographer Fokas Evangelinos, participated also many other famous artists, such as the music legend Stevie Wonder, the Italian tenor Vittorio Grigolo, the American singer Vanessa Williams, the Greek musicians Alkistis Protopsalti and Stefanos Korkolis, who also wrote the anthem of the ceremony. Host of the evening was the actor George Kapoutzidis, with the exclusive participation of Maria Menounos and the Chinese actress Zhang Zigi.

"I couldn’t miss today's ceremony. I write songs with my heart and I am honored to be in Athens for the Special Olympics», said Stevie Wonder on the occasion of his participation in the ceremony.

"This is a difficult moment for Greece and the participation in the opening ceremony and in the games can be an inspiration and be healing when one sees what these athletes manage to achieve with their efforts ", said in a press conference earlier the TV host Maria Menounos.

 "This is a worldwide movement. Wherever I travel I find members of the movement. We are here to bring some light into a dark period for Greece ", said Vanessa Williams, an American singer and actress who participates in the movement since 1992.