The cultural performance included a combination of dances from the three ethnic groups of Malay, Chinese and Indian to represent the population of Malaysia and its background.

The Opening Ceremony also featured a parade of athletes who will be participating in the Championships while the host country’s National Anthem "NegaraKu" was played over a loud speaker.

A total of 292 athletes from 49 countries will be at the competition and of those participants, 114 athletes are women.

Welcoming speeches at the Opening Ceremony were given by chairperson of the Local Organising Committee Kassin Abd Rahman, IPC Governing Board member Dato’ Zainal Abu Zarin and Mayor of Kuala Lumpur Datuk Seri Ahmad Fuad Ismail.

A special souvenir presentation followed the speeches where Dato’ Zainal Abu Zarin presented a souvenir to the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur while a short speech from the Master of Ceremonies then concluded the Opening Ceremony.

The event will take place until next Saturday (July 30) at the Kuala Lumpur Stadium Titiwangsa.

Following the conclusion of World Championships on July 31, many of those participating in the event will be at the 2010 IPC Powerlifting Sport Forum.

The forum will be an opportunity for all those involved in the Paralympic Sport to provide feedback and expert information on its future.

Powerlifting for athletes with a disability made its first appearance in 1964 at the second Paralympic Games in Tokyo as weightlifting.

Only men with spinal injuries participated with slightly different rules than are used today.

Later it changed from ‘weightlifting to powerlifting and now the competition is open to all athletes with cerebral palsy, spinal injuries, amputees (lower limb amputees only) and les autres who meet minimal disability criteria.

Women competed in this sport for the first time in Sydney in 2000.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]