My advice to other disabled people would be, concentrate on things your disability doesn't prevent you doing well, and don't regret the things it interferes with. Don't be disabled in spirit as well as physically. -Stephen Hawking

May be the principle above is what participants in Peparnas hold. But before I explain it further, do you know what is Peparnas? What is the special thing about it?

Peparnas stands for Pekan Paralimpik Nasional or National Paralympic Games. It is a sports event for all athletes with disabilities in Indonesia. They compete each other to fight for gold, silver, and bronze medal in the sports. This year's Peparnas is the 15th (Peparnas XV 2016). It is held in Stadion Siliwangi, Bandung, West Java from Saturday, October 15th until Monday, October 24th 2016. There will be 13 sports matched and 2737 medals fought between 2355 atheletes from 33 provinces around Indonesia. Each province sent their representatives to this event.

The first day of Peparnas, Saturday, October 15th 2016 was the opening ceremony of the event. The opening ceremony was attended by some state officials such as Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi, Chairman of PB PON and Peparnas 2016 Jabar Ahmad Heryawan, Chairman of the National Paralympic Committee Marbun Sani, Vice Governor of West Java Deddy H Mizwar as well as representatives and chief de mission of the entire contingent of participants. Its theme is "Berjaya di Tanah Legenda".

Public Senior High Schools in Bandung came to this event, including SMAN 3 Bandung. SMAN 3 sent 500 students; all 10th Graders, OSIS, and PK.

We, 10th Graders, gathered at school at about 1.30 PM. We were given snacks and a paper bracelet as a ticket to enter the stadium. Then we went to Siliwangi Stadium together in a line and arrived there at about 2.30 PM (yes we did walking around first before entering the stadium). 

The opening ceremony was started. Bandung Rock Anthem played "Takdir Kemenangan" as an opening song. There were also traditional dances and songs. 

Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi and Chairman of PB PON and Peparnas 2016 Jabar Ahmad Heryawan gave an opening speech. When this event was formally opened, there were colorful fireworks around the stage. 

After that, all the contingents were called. Contingent parade was started by Nangroe Aceh Darussalam and was ended by West Java, which was led by Contingent Commander Insp Gen Bambang Waskito who is also the police chief of West Java.

When all contingent was called, there were dances that were combined from traditional songs around Indonesia. At last, it formed Indonesian flag in the middle of the stadium. 

And that was how the opening ceremony was held. I hope that Peparnas XV 2016 can be held  without any mistakes, fouls, nor misadventures and ... Goodluck for all the participants especially for West Java contingent! "BERJAYA DI TANAH LEGENDA"