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RIO DE JANEIRO -- The Paralympic Games opened Wednesday with 4,350 athletes demonstrating first-hand their creed: The heart knows no limits; everybody has a heart.Wheelchair daredevil Aaron Wheelz showed the spirit in the opening act.As a countdown from 10 reached its end, Wheelz raced down a giant ramp and somersaulted in the air through a giant 0 on the stadium floor. That finished the countdown and shattered more stereotypes about what athletes with disabilities can do.The president of the International Paralympic Committee, Philip Craven, made a similar point with his speech. Craven, who lost the use of his legs in a rock-climbing fall at the age of 16, reminded Brazilians they have their own problems to overcome.Craven suggested Brazilians follow the lead of Paralympians.In a country which has faced major challenges of late, Paralympians will switch your focus from perceived limitations -- to a world full of possibility and endless opportunity, Craven said. They will surprise you, inspire and excite you, but most of all they will change you.Brazil is mired in its worst recession in generations. The country just removed its elected president, and these games needed a government bailout of almost $80 million to make it to the starting line.Craven also used the theme of inclusion, topical in a country often separated by the rich and poor, and black and white; a country with few provisions for wheelchairs or anyone with an impairment.Show the world that there is no them, there is only us, Craven told the capacity crowd at the opener. A world where people of all abilities, races, nationalities and sexualities can come together as one. We are all part of one world.The symbolic cauldron was lit by Brazilian swimmer and wheelchair user Clodoaldo Silva as rain fell. The six-time gold medalist faced a flight of stairs and looked perplexed about what to do next. The staircase then opened, exposing a ramp leading to the cauldron. Problem solved.Silva received the torch after a number of athletes carried it in the stadium. Among them was former Brazilian Paralympic medalist Marcia Malsar, who wobbled and fell over backward as she carried the torch across floor with aid of a cane. Malsar got back up, with some assistance, and finished her roughly 30-meter section of the relay in an effort warmly acknowledged by the crowd.The show featured a tribute to the wheel, to Brazils swirling samba rhythms, and to the beach -- a ritual gathering spot in Rio. And there was the cast applauding an imaginary sunset, another ritual in this beach town.The show also saluted Brazilian swimmer Daniel Dias, the countrys most decorated Paralympian with 10 gold medals -- and surely more to come in Rio.Organizers say tickets sales have been booming. Only 200,000 were sold a few weeks ago, but theyve now sold 1.6 million. The goal is 2.4 million. This is partly a result of the reasonable prices for many tickets, only 10 Brazilian reals ($3).A notable absentee was International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach.The IOC chief said he had to miss the ceremony to attend a state mourning ceremony in Germany for Walter Scheel, the former West Germany president.Craven told reporters its the first time since Salt Lake City in 2002 that an IOC president had missed a Paralympic opening.Patrick Hickey, a high-ranking IOC member from Ireland, was among 10 people charged by Brazilian prosecutors on Tuesday with ticket scalping, conspiracy and ambush marketing related to last months Olympics.Police investigators said they wanted to speak with Bach about email exchanges he had with Hickey related to ticket allocations for Ireland. Police had planned to summon Bach if he came for the opening ceremony, though there is no evidence he knew about the ticket scam.Also missing were 267 Russian athletes who were banned because of alleged state-sponsored doping. Officials say 159 nations were entered on Wednesday, and in addition a refugee team.Rio 2016 organizing committee chairman Carlos Arthur Nuzman, Craven and -- loudest of all Brazil President Michel Temer -- were jeered. Nuzman and Craven when they thanked the Brazil government.Temer opened the games officially and, as he was in the Olympics when he was only the acting president, was jeered by fans chanting Fora Temer -- Out Temer.Temer took over as president after Dilma Rousseff was removed from office on impeachment charges a week ago by the federal senate.---Stephen Wade on Twitter: http://twitter.com/StephenWadeAP . 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Thats what I felt when I received word Dale Earnhardt Jr. had made the decision to remain on the sidelines for the remainder of 2016.That was my perspective -- that of a 50-year-old former driver who has?sustained many concussions and weighing every conversation Ive had with Dale the past two months.His wasnt the most popular announcement for those hoping to see him compete again (count me among them), but it was the absolute correct announcement as it relates to his future.Here is why:?? Having not been in a race car for roughly 60 days, Dale has made progress as it relates to the symptoms associated with his concussions, but the symptoms still exist. Thats concerning.?? I believe its your bodys way of talking to you, reminding you that there are still repairs needing to be made. Those repairs require time. How much time? Nobody knows.?? To that end, having a conference every two weeks doesnt help a person psychologically. With each announcement comes hope, or expectation. I believe in my heart of hearts that a person like Dale has no interest in letting people down. For a driver in his position, thats added pressure, and it probably doesnt help.?? When symptoms last for an extended period of time, you begin questioning yourself. Why is this taking longer than before? Did I cross the line (of what a body can tolerate) this time? What if I cant ever race again? Its hard to imagine, but if you love driving cars fast, its very uncomfortable to face the prospect of never being able to do it again.?? When youre in your 20s, you have no money, little responsibility, and even less regard for your health. You will do whatever it takes to be successful, to win, to become a member of that elite list of drivers associated with winning at NASCARs highest level. In your 40s you become aware of the punishment your body has taken, the toll that was paid in order to reach those goals.The Botttom LineIm 10 years into retirement, and Ive never replicated the feeling, the sensation of driving race cars, and in particular the elation of being the first to pass under the checkered flag.dddddddddddd Winning races delivers a fulfillment I cannot describe, but if you watch how each weeks winner celebrates, regardless of it being their first or their 40th, it paints a vivid picture.That void can be very difficult, even damaging for retired athletes. Its almost impossible to prepare for, and I can tell you, Ive had my challenges.Dale Earnhardt Jr. Is more than just a great athlete, he is an icon. He has the popularity of an Elvis Presley, the skill of a Ken Griffey Jr., with the pressure like Griffeys of following in the footsteps of a legend.I was relieved for Dale after Fridays announcement because he has a tall, tall, hurdle to clear.Having stepped out from behind the wheel of his car twice in his career because of concussion-type symptoms, he cannot risk a third. Not at 42. It simply doesnt make sense.The temptation to come back because you feel better, because you have been cleared could set Dale back with the possibility of the symptoms returning because of the loads from the banking, the g-force, vibrations, noise and frequencies.These arent things most people consider. These are things Ive experienced.Although I miss driving and competing and know I cant match the value it brought to my life, Ive discovered a whole new appreciation for the things I do have.My three healthy children are front and center. They light up my life.My view of Dales circumstance isnt exclusive to the race car driver, its also about the son, the brother, the fiancé and the friend.Trust me when I tell you, Dales decision on when or whether to return has great implications. ' ' '