The Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics concluded in Sochi, Russia with a vivid display of fireworks and two legendary Russian ex-Olympians lighting the cauldron.
The spectacle may not remove the problems that clouded the build-up to the tournament: political controversies, terrorism fears and concerns over the venue’s preparedness remain. The Russians so far have responded with glum defiance; others still question the morality of holding the Games at this Black Sea resort. But that all now takes a backseat as the Games begin.
Meanwhile, India faced the ignominy of witnessing three of its athletes march without the national flag during the opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics on Friday.
With the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) suspended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) due to ethical and administrative reasons, luger Shiva Keshavan, Alpine skier Himanshu Thakur and cross-country skier Nadeem Iqbal will have to walk behind the IOC flag.
The Indian athletes will compete under the "independent athletes" category and will be represented under the Olympic flag.
Here is the rundown of events:
A military choir performs during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics at the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 7./Damien Meyer / AFP / Getty Images
Olympic Rings at Sochi, the 5th ring fails to open up.
Independent Olympic Participants (IOP), alpine skier Himanshu Thakur (R), cross-country skier Nadeem Iqbal (C) and luger Shiva Keshavan (L), enter during the opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics at the Fisht Olympic Stadium on Friday in Sochi. Pic/AFP
The Olympic mascots are seen during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 7, 2014./David J. Phillip / AP
Performers with balloons representing St. Basil's cathedral./Clive Mason / Getty Images
Lubov, the so-called ‘Hero Girl,’ is lifted up on strings at the start of the Opening Ceremony./HOW HWEE YOUNG / EPA
Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s Prime Minister, sleeping during the Opening Ceremony/ @shustry/twitter
Actors perform “Swan Lake” during the opening ceremony./David J. Phillip / AP
The Olympic Cauldron is lit during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 7./Darron Cummings / AP
Featured IMage: wtatennis.com/javaImages/
Alpine, Anokhi Blogs, Anokhi Media, Backseat, Category, Cauldron, Controversies, Defiance, Fireworks, Games, Indian, Keshavan, Maria Sharapova, Mascot, Olympics, Opening, Political, Russian, Sochi 2014, Spectacle, Stadium, Tournament, Venue, Vladimir Putin, Witnessing, Young
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