07.03 Sochi Paralympics Set to Open With Unity-Inspired Ceremony

SOCHI, March 7 (R-Sport) – Unity and inclusiveness will be the watchwords for the Sochi Paralympic opening ceremony Friday, with an appearance from Russia’s fairytale firebird, creative director Konstantin Ernst has said.

Ernst, who won plaudits for his directing of the opening and closing ceremonies for last month’s Olympics, said he wanted to show how Russian attitudes to people with disabilities had changed since the country was awarded its first Paralympics in 2007.

“We couldn’t fail to take note of the positive changes that had taken place in Russian society with regard to people with disabilities,” he said.

“We focused on passing on that feeling, and our ceremony is called �?Breaking the Ice.’ … It explains how important it is to break down comprehension barriers between people.”

Oscar-winning animator Alexander Petrov has designed the image of the firebird, a magical creature from Russian folklore, while another Oscar laureate, Mexico’s Eugenio Caballero, is in charge of set design.