Thread by @AFP

Going for gold.

#Paralympics gets under way in #Tokyo2020 after a high-energy and poignant opening ceremony, with the first golds up for grabs in cycling, wheelchair fencing and swimming

u.afp.com/Ur9o

Afghanistan's two Paralympic athletes have been safely evacuated from the country, the International Paralympic Committee says, declining to specify their destination

u.afp.com/Ur9U

📸 The Afghanistan flag is carried by a volunteer at the #Paralympics opening ceremony

Track and road cycling.

#AFPGraphics highlights some of the events at the #paralympics

Goalball.

#AFPGraphics highlights some of the events at the #paralympics

#UPDATE Sarah Storey on Wednesday moved a step closer to becoming Britain's greatest Paralympian, shattering her own world record before powering to victory in the C5 3,000 metres individual pursuit final for her 15th gold u.afp.com/UrFE #Paralympics #AFPSports

#UPDATE Australia are the Paralympic kings of wheelchair rugby, but a shock loss to Denmark on Wednesday has jolted their chances of winning a third straight gold in the bone-juddering sport u.afp.com/UrFH #Paralympics #Tokyo2020

#INTERVIEW French-Israeli Pascale Bercovitch, who calls herself the world's oldest kayaker, has failed to win a medal at the three previous #Paralympics, but says she remains hopeful because "she's a better athlete at 54 than at 20" u.afp.com/UrFR #Tokyo2020

#UPDATE British cyclist Sarah Storey added to her glorious gold medal-winning history as wheelchair rugby powerhouses Australia suffered a shock defeat on day one of the delayed #Tokyo2020 #Paralympics on Wednesday u.afp.com/UHkQ #AFPSports