The 2012 London Paralympics opening ceremony in numbers:

62,000 apples for the audience to crunch

18,000 LED lights in the performers’ hat brims

4,200 athletes invited

3,250 volunteer cast members

442 people in the singing and signing choir

260 whirling dancers

165 nations taking part — the largest number in Paralympic history

150 volunteer readers

106 rehearsals at two east London sites

85 average hours each volunteer rehearsed for

80 age of oldest cast member

75 child volunteers

73 deaf and disabled performers

68 disabled volunteers

50 seagull books

45 inflatable apples

23 sway poles — the largest number ever used together in one performance

17 metres long — the length of the inflatable whale

13 metres tall — the height of the Alison Lapper statue reproduction

10 youngest cast member

3 sets of shoes each swaypole performer wore out in rehearsals

By Sapa-AFP