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Sochi Olympics' Opening Ceremony Photos Set the Tone for Dramatic Winter Games
And, they're off! The 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics jumpstarted Friday with Russia's highly anticipated ceremonies, which, per usual, included the Parade of Nations, live performances, and a dramatic torch lighting. But, for those of us on the other side of the world, what did it look like inside Fisht Olympic Stadium? Click on to see some of the Opening Ceremonies' most notable moments in pictures.
Sochi Lets Its Colors Burst
With a series of impressive fireworks.
Inflatables
Inflatables make the shape of St. Basil’s Cathedral, an iconic Russian landmark in Moscow.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs Sing "Get Lucky"
Without robot masks, this time. (See video here!)
Snow Way!
A bevy of snowflakes were supposed to transform into the five Olympic rings during the opening ceremony…
Oh, Snow
…One, however, failed to take shape…
…which probably didn’t make Putin (seen here with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach) too happy.
Flying High
A closer look at Temnikova as Lyubov, soaring through the stadium.
Russia Spreads Its Voice
Thanks to Liza Temnikova, performing the “Voices of Russia,” portraying Russian artist Lyubov.
Tokio Performs
The Russian band Tokio opened the Olympics Ceremony pre-show.
T.a.t.u. Performs
A surprising choice for the pre-show to a very anti-gay Winter Games: Lena Katina and Yulia Volkova, otherwise known as t.A.T.u, otherwise known as the band that invited controversy for for their faux homosexual image. Despite the fact that the band is not made up of two lesbian singers, t.A.T.u has always advocated for gay rights.
A Permanent Look at t.A.T.u.
A closer look at all the things “All the Things She Said” singers t.A.t.u. said during the Opening Ceremonies Pre-Show. (Note the rainbow garb.)
Russian Pride
Inflatables take the shape of Russia’s famed cathedrals.
Russian Pride
Athlete Marshals formed the Russian flag during the ceremony.
Russia Sings
The Moscow Stretensky Monastery Choir performs the country’s national anthem.
The Olympic Flag
Olympic flag bearers Chulpan Khamatova, Lidiya Skoblikova, Anastasia Popova, Valentina Tereshkova, Vyacheslav Fetisov, Valeriy Gergiev, Alan Enileev and Nikita Mikhalkov carry in the Olympic Flag.
Greece Kicks Off The Parade of Nations
Led by cross country skier Panagiota Tsakiri.
Australia
Led by snowboarder Alex Pullin.
Austria
Led by Nordic combined skier Mario Stecher.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Led by Skier Zana Novakovic.
Great Britain
Led by Short track speed skater Jon Eley.
Brazil
Led by cross country skier and biathlete Jaqueline Mourao.
Germany
Led by skier Maria Hoefl-Riesch.
Bulgaria
Led by skier Maria Kirkova.
Belarus
Led by freestyle skier Alexei Grishin.
Canada
Led by ice hockey player Hayley Wickenheiser.
Italy
Led by luger Armin Zoeggeler.
Spain
Led by figure skater Javier Fernandez.
Israel
Led by short track speed skater Vladislav Bykanov.
Iceland
Led by cross country skier Saevar Birgisson.
Latvia
Led by ice hockey player Sandis Ozolins.
Ireland
Led by ice hockey player Sandis Ozolins.
Norway
Led by skier Aksel Lund Svindal.
Zimbabwe
Led by skier Luke Steyn.
Mexico
Led by skier Hubertus von Hohenlohe.
Poland
Led by bobsleigh racer Dawid Kupczyk.
Kyrgyzstan
Led by skier Dmitry Trelevski.
Georgia
Led by skier Nino Tsiklauri.
China
Led by figure skater Jian Tong.
South Korea
Led by speed skater Kyou Hyuk Lee.
Brazil
Led by cross country skier and biathlete Jaqueline Mourao.
United States
Led by Nordic combined skier Todd Lodwick.
Slovakia
Led by ice hockey player Zdeno Chara.
Serbia
Led by biathlete Milanko Petrovic.
Norway
Led by skier Aksel Lund Svindal.
Denmark
Led by curler Lene Nielsen.
Ukraine
Led by cross country skier Valentina Shevchenko.
Venezuela
Led by skier Antonio Pardo.
Dominica
Led by cross country skier Gary di Silvestri.
Slovenia
Led by ice hockey player Tomaz Razingar.
Virgin Islands
Led by skier Jasmine Campbell.
San Marino
Led by skier Vincenzo Romano Michelotti.
Kazakhstan
Led by cross country skier Yerdos Akhmadiyev.
New Zealand
Led by speed skater Shane Dobbin.
France
Led by Nordic combined skier Jason Lamy-Chappuis.
Romania
Led by biathlete Eva Tofalvi.
Finland
Led by snowboarder Enni Rukajarvi.
Russia
Led by bobsleigh racer Alexander Zubkov.
Portugal
Led by skier Arthur Hanse.
Jamaica
Led by bobsleigh racer Marvin Dixon.
Sweden
Led by cross country skier Anders Soedergren.
Macedonia
Led by cross country skier Darko Damjanovski.
Bermuda
Led by cross country skier Tucker Murphy.
Albania
Led by skier Erjon Tola.
Andorra
Led by skier Mireia Gutierrez.
Azerbaijan
Led by skier Patrick Brachner.
Iran
Led by skier Hossein Saveh Shemshaki.
Cayman Islands
Led by skier Dow Travers.
Armenia
Led by cross country skier Sergey Mikayelyan.
Morocco
Led by skier Adam Lamhamedi.
Finland
Led by snowboarder Enni Rukajarvi.
Romania
Led by biathlete Eva Tofalvi.
Japan
Led by curler Ayumi Ogasawara.
Olympic Flag raised
Anna Netrebko sings as the Olympic Flag is raised in Sochi.
Mongolia
Led by cross country skier Byambadorj Bold.
Olympic flame
Olympic torch bearer Alina Kabaeva carries the torch with Maria Sharapova and Elena Isinbaeva.
Sochi Opening Ceremony
Svetlana Zakharova and Vladimir Vasiliev perform as Natasha Rostova and her father in Natasha Rostova’s First Ball during the Opening Ceremony.
Sochi Opening Ceremony
Dancers perform during the Olympics Opening Ceremony.
Lithuania
Led by figure skater Deividas Stagniunas.
Sochi Mascots
A hare, a bear, and a leopard round up the 2014 Sochi Olympic mascots.
Lebanon
Led by skier Alexandre Mohbat.
Fire Up!
The Olympic cauldron should light a fire under the athletes at these Olympic games.
