“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in getting up every time we do.”

• Confucius

The Bird’s Nest here in Beijing is bound to become one of the World’s iconic structures. It will resonate in years to come with much the same effect as the Eiffel Tower or the Empire State Building…mark my words.

Still, I’ll remember the Bird’s Nest, or the National Stadium as it is more formally called, because of what happened within its spectacular walls.

The Olympics delivered the wonder of Usain Bolt of Jamaica, the World’s Fastest Man, it’s true, but at these Paralympic Games the track at the Bird’s Nest has been cooking with gas each and every night as disabled athletes from around the World win races and more importantly, the hearts of Chinese fans.

Rick Mercer and Scott Russell at the Paralympic Games in Beijing (CBC)

Rick Mercer is in town to film the first episode of the season of Rick Mercer Report at these Games. The other night we spent some time together watching the drama unfold at the great stadium. “I’ve wept six times already,” Rick exclaimed when I first approached him. “This is too good an opportunity to pass up.”

Indeed, Mercer was clicking away photos and marveling at the circus like atmosphere over the course of the evening. At times I could see that his mouth was gaping at the wonder of it all.

Like Rick, I took in the spectacular passion play as well. It included so many sub plots.

There was the Chinese double amputee Zhao Xu, roaring to victory in his heat of the 100M - the entire crowd rising to crescendo as he approached the finish line. His time was 11.10 seconds, remarkable for a man missing both of his arms. Zhao ripped off his shirt and held it up to the people as they extended their approval. There was a prolonged dance of celebration. For Zhao Xu there was still a long way to go but the crowd applauded him fully for this first victory.

The stadium is painted with vivid colours in all respects. The black sky of Beijing and the bright orange of the cauldron’s omnipresent flame preside over the infield’s emerald green grass and the surrounding brick red of the track. When you are nestled in the Bird’s Nest everything appears sharper, clearer, much more brilliant.

Throughout the men’s 10,000M for runners with up to five percent visibility, the 91,000 spectators performed the wave to follow the racers progression. The noise became like the constant roar of the ocean and in the end they brought 35-year-old Henry Kirwa of Kenya home as he held off a last second charge from Abderrahim Zhiou of Tunisia, a man 13 years his junior. I can’t remember the last time I saw so much enthusiasm for such a long race.

Then there was the wildness of the men’s 4x400 wheelchair relay. A resounding win for China produced a jubilant frenzy. Thousands and thousands of red and yellow flags waved in the grandstands and the four- man crew paraded around the track with their banner fluttering proudly between their mobile chairs.

In the men’s 1500M heats Canadian Jeff Adams got involved in a crash at the bell lap as he swerved to the outside. Two chairs capsized and Adams wavered momentarily only to charge back and claim a spot in the top four. There were expletives on the part of the French competitor who confronted Adams in the interview area after the race. Emotions ran high because so much was at stake in this gladiator’s forum.

Chantal Petitclerc being interviewed at the Paralympic Games in Beijing (CBC)

The greatest moment came when Chantal Petitclerc, the Canadian wheelchair legend and winner of five gold medals at the Paralympics in Greece four years ago, produced a landmark victory in the 800M. It was her second gold medal of the night, the other coming in the 200M. It was also her third world record of the day. In front of this adoring crowd it may have been Petitclerc’s finest hour…period.

“No one knows me in China and still they cheer,” Petitclerc gasped when all was said and done. “It’s not like the Paralympic athletes are on any Nike ads. And still these people cheer for us all the way no matter where we come from. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Neither had I. Nor had I ever been prouder to listen to “Oh Canada” than when she wheeled up to the podium at the Bird’s Nest. All of the 91,000 souls in attendance rose respectfully to hear our stirring national anthem.

I thought to myself when was the last time our anthem was played in front of this many people gathered in one place at the same time? I couldn’t come up with the answer.

It struck me this was the culmination of a box office night at the Bird’s Nest. The moment I will remember forever involved a Canadian in the limelight at Beijing’s colossal stadium. I thought good for you Chantal Petitclerc and good on you People’s Republic of China.

These had been memorable moments.