Not only did legendary Chinese film director Zhang Yimou orchestrate the two Olympic bookends, he's been spending the last two weeks making sure the Paralympic Opening Ceremony was perfect as well.

There were familiar things, like the 10-second countdown done in fireworks. But instead of the Parade of Nations following the artistic portion, the athletes marched in first, so they could watch the proceedings from the two ends. Pop star Andy Lau performed the official song of both the Paralympics and the modern Communist party, "Everyone is No. 1." The emotional highlight was an airborne dance by 12-year old Li Yuan, who lost her leg in the Sichuan earthquake.

In a departure from the solemn and powerful Olympic ceremonies, there were these odd numbered imps, pictured above. Two thousand children made outlines of animals on the stadium floor and the audience was prompted to make the proper duck, frog and seagull noises. The Closing Ceremony two weeks ago could have used a little more of those elements.

The torch lighting -- an event made memorable a month ago by Los Angeles 1984 star Li Ning's skywalk around the rim of the stadium -- was much more vertical than horizontal. Wheelchair athlete Hou Bin, a high jump champion at the past three Paralympics, pulled himself up with a rope (right) to the bottom tip of the cauldron before lighting it with the torch. It's nice to see the flame lit again.

The spectacle unfolded in front of another packed Bird's Nest, and there was little profit involved. The Chinese government offered free T-shirts, baseball caps, bottled water, lunch boxes and cash to attendees.

As would be expected, much of the sporting world -- specifically the United States of America -- has cured its own Olympic fever and is back to football. The Paralympic Opening Ceremony was not shown on U.S. television, but can be viewed online on Universal Sports' website. One can also watch competitions on YouTube, free of the usual Olympic restrictions.

(Photo credit: AP)