Rio 2016 Paralympics: When is the opening ceremony, what time does it start and how do I watch?

THE Paralympics kicks off another 12 days of exhilarating sporting action in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday.

It’s been just two weeks since another riveting edition of the Olympic Games came to a close – but they are roaring back to life with the Paralympics opening ceremony set to kick off.

The 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro went down a treat, the proud British team ending up as the second best nation in the world, behind only the United States on medal count.

Our home heroes won an astonishing 27 gold medals, 23 silvers and 17 bronze gongs, to take home an outrageous 67 in total.

But just before you start to reminisce, we’ve still got two weeks of Paralympic action to keep the adrenaline pumping.

SunSport runs down everything you need to know about the Paralympic Games opening ceremony, including the when, the where and how you can follow all of the action.

WHEN?

THE opening ceremony will kick off on Wednesday September 7.

WHAT TIME?

SET your alarm clocks for 9.30pm BST to catch all of the action in the Maracana.

HOW TO FOLLOW

CHANNEL 4 will be showing off all of the Paralympic action – and the opening ceremony is no exception.

BBC also have the rights to the radio coverage for the two weeks.

WHO IS TEAM GB’S FLAG BEARER?

LEE PEARSON will lead Team GB’s 263-strong group of Paralympians into and around the Maracana.

The equestrian rider, 42, is kicking off his FIFTH Games in Rio, claiming the fact he’s been named the bearer shows how great the team’s diversity is.

Pearson said: “It just shows how diverse, how accepting, how lovely and how strong our team is.

“That’s why I’m so proud of my fellow athletes. What an amazing nation to have – we’ve got so many diverse characters, different religions and races…

“To vote a gay bloke to be in that position is a massive honour.”