Rio Paralympics 2016: 10 things you need to know about the Games and opening ceremony

More than 4,000 athletes from more than 160 teams worldwide are set to take part in the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Wednesday evening local time (7 September 2016).

The ceremony is set to start at 5.30pm Rio time at the Maracana Stadium, which also played host to the Summer Olympic Games opening show in August.

Where can I watch the opening ceremony?

Around 50,000 tickets were available for the show, but you can still watch the ceremony outside of Brazil. In the UK, Channel 4 will begin its broadcast of the ceremony at 9pm (BST) which will be hosted by Clare Balding and Adam Hills and will end at around 1.30am.

American viewers can watch on NBC, which holds the rights to the Paralympics coverage in the States.

Who will take part in the opening ceremony?

Around 500 professional staff, including choreographers and artists, and 2,000 volunteers will take part in the opening ceremony. More than 4,000 athletes representing 160 teams from around the world, each with its own flag-bearer, will participate in the show.

Who will lead the opening ceremony parade?

Ibrahim Al Hussein, a Syrian refugee who will compete as part of the Independent Paralympic Athletes team at the Games, will lead this year's opening ceremony.

Who else should I look out for in the ceremony?

US snowboarder and Paralympic medallist Amy Purdy, who won bronze at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games, will perform a samba dance at the opening ceremony.

What is the theme of the show?

The theme is Every Body Has A Heart – which will focus on the human condition, feelings, challenges, solidarity and love. It was created by three directors: designer Fred Gelli, writer Marcel Rubens Paiva and artist Vik Muniz.

What will happen?

The ceremony remains a secret, but we know it will include the live creation of a mosaic using 500 plates to form a piece of art by Muniz. One of the highlights will be the lighting of the Paralympic cauldron, which will signal the official start of the Games. The quadrangular torch reflects the four Paralympic values – courage, determination, inspiration and equality.

How many athletes compete in the Paralympics?

Around 4,350 athletes from more than 160 countries will be competing in more than 500 medal events in 22 different sports. This year, more women than ever will participate in the Paralympics, with around 1,650 taking part – an increase of nearly 10% compared with London 2012.

Where can I find a schedule for the events?

This year will see the debut of the triathlon and canoe events, alongside favourites such as swimming, athletics and cycling. The full timetable of events can be accessed here and you can find out where the events will take place here.

Where will the games take place?

There will be 21 competition venues in four regions across the city: Copacabana, Maracana, Deodoro and Barra.

When will the Games finish?

The Rio Paralympics will come to an end on Sunday 18 September.