The 2016 Summer Paralympics are to be held in Rio de Janeiro from 7 to 18 September. During these days athletes will compete in 22 sports to get 528 medal sets.

In the picture: fireworks at the opening of the 2016 Paralympics

Russian athletes haven't come to Rio as IPC banned all of them from the games having taken into account the report by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

It was widely expected that the Russian delegation will get the permission at the last moment, but the International Paralympic Committee was steadfast.

The Russians were outraged by the IPC decision, so were their neighbors from Belarus who appeared at the opening ceremony with the Russian flag having expressed their opinion in such an audacious gesture.

In the picture: the Belorussian delegation at the 2016 Paralympics opening ceremony.

Interestingly, the representative of the Belorussian Paralympic Committee informed the IPC that the Belorussian athletes were going to hold the Russian flag at the opening ceremony, but the International Committee was quite negative about that.

Thus, the members of the International Paralympic Committee didn't expect to see the Russian flag at the Maracana stadium, so the Belorussian team wonders what punishment they'll get.

In the picture: a colorful show prepared by the Brazilians for the Paralympians and the guests.

In the picture: the US athletes welcome spectators and the organizers of the 2016 Paralympics.

In the picture: the Brazilian athletes, hosts of the event.

In the picture: the UK Paralympians greet spectators.

In the picture: the large Ukrainian delegation on the opening day of the 2016 Paralympics.

In the picture: the flags of all the countries participating in the 2016 Paralympics.

In the picture: the installation at the Maracana stadium on the opening day of the 2016 Paralympics.

In the picture: a Paralympian holding the Olympic torch.

In the picture: an eye-catching dance of a disabled girl with a robot at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Paralympics.