The 2012 London Paralympic Games have been declared officially open, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported.
Margaret Maughan, 84, Britain's first Paralympic Games gold medalist, lit the cauldron in an opening ceremony the BBC said was watched by about 80,000 spectators.
The “Enlightenment” marked the start of the 11-day event, in which about 4,300 athletes from 166 countries will compete.
