By Elizabeth Hudson BBC Sport in Athens

American athlete Marlon Shirley might be the fastest amputee in the world, but his achievements in Athens will not be seen in his home country.

There is no television deal in place to show the Paralympics in the USA and the best that can be hoped for is a possible highlights programme that may go out a month after the Games finish.

The situation is frustrating to Shirley, a double Paralympic champion in Sydney, who is chasing five gold medals in Athens.

"It is a travesty to think the Games will not be shown in the USA - there was coverage in 2000 in Sydney. It looks like somebody dropped the ball," he said.

The must-see attraction in Athens is undoubtedly the Acropolis - and its newly-introduced elevators have opened up the ancient site to wheelchair users.

The ride to the top goes in two stages but the sudden influx of Paralympians to the city has led to a few problems.

The first chair lift is battery operated and is designed to carry 20 wheelchairs a day.

However, the increased volume of visitors - up to about 60 a day - means the lift has to be regularly turned off so it can recharge itself.

It has led to long queues at the venue, with some of the Portuguese delegation forced to wait around an hour and a half to take their turn.

But by all accounts, the wait is worth it.

International Paralympic Committee president Phil Craven promises that Friday's opening ceremony will be an amazing spectacle.

"It is a sell-out and from what I've heard from the 35,000 spectators who were in the stadium for the dress rehearsal, it will be one heck of a show," he said.

Craven, who represented Great Britain in both wheelchair basketball and swimming, also got the chance to relive his athletic days when he took part in the torch relay.

"I believe it was typically Greek and typically fantastic," said Craven, who oversees his first Summer Games since his election to the top post in 2001.