Aspiring snowboarder lights Paralympic cauldron in Vancouver

THE enduring spirit of one of Canada's most renowned disabled athletes was the inspiration behind the opening ceremony of the Winter Paralympics in Vancouver.

BACK ALIGHT: The Paralympic cauldron at Vancouver's BC Place is lit by 15-year old aspiring Paralympian Zach Beaumont (Getty Images)

Terry Fox was diagnosed with bone cancer at 18 and despite having his right leg amputated just above the knee, inspired the nation with his 1980 Marathon of Hope.

He was forced to abandon his cross-country run after 143 days and thousands of miles after his cancer returned and although he died on June 28 1981, runs held in his honour since have raised over $400 million (£258m) for cancer charities.

His mother Betty, who carried the Olympic flag during the opening ceremony of that event exactly one month ago, carried the flame into the arena with husband Rolly while aspiring Paralympian Zach Beaumont lit the flame.

Beaumont, 15, had his right leg amputated as a baby after being born without a tibia and knee joint, competes in snowboarding, football, cycling and swimming.

Curler Michael McCreadie carried the British flag as the crowd at BC Place stadium welcomed 1,350 athletes from more than 40 countries.

The first medals will be awarded in men's and women's downhill skiing in the standing, sitting and visually impaired categories at Whistler Creekside.

Brian McKeever, the Canadian visually impaired cross-country skier who made the Olympic team but didn't race due to a decision by the coaching staff, competes in the biathlon, the first of his five events.

Canadian wheelchair curlers, who won gold in 2006, open play with games against McCreadie's British rink, the silver medallists in Torino, and the USA.

While the hosts' sledge hockey team - inspired by the performance of the men's and women's hockey teams at the Olympics - begins defence of its 2006 gold medal by taking on Italy.