Xxii Winter Olympic Games opening ceremony. Opening ceremony of the XXII Olympiad in Sochi

Opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Sochi

A solemn ceremony was held in Sochi opening XXII winter olympic games.
It is estimated that the grandiose show was watched by about three billion viewers. The show really blew me away.

Fireworks over the Fisht stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi on February 7, 2014.

At the Fisht Stadium, the national teams of the world were met in the stands by Russian President Vladimir Putin, President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach, Prince Albert II of Monaco with his wife Charlene Wittstock, businessman Roman Abramovich and many others.

The opening ceremony of the Olympics in Sochi began with the presentation of the great people who glorified Russia to the whole world: Peter I, Alexander Pushkin ... world - such as astronauts see it from space. More than 180 nations emerged from the clouds, five snowflakes turned into five huge suns, and then into five Olympic rings.

The first team to appear at the Fisht Stadium was the Greek national team, the parent country of the Olympic Games. The Russian team became the most numerous. The flag of our country was carried by the bobsledder Alexander Zubkov, and the model Irina Shayk in the traditional kokoshnik was ahead of everyone. DJ Leonid Rudenko was responsible for the music at the opening, putting on the track "They won't catch up with us" by t.A.T.u., who performed at the concert before the opening ceremony.

We saw the whole history of Russia, which was shown famous people our country. Thus, the heroes of Leo Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace", who personified the 19th century, were presented by the prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Theater Svetlana Zakharova as Natasha Rostova, the dancer Ivan Vasiliev and Alexander Petukhov as Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov. Next, boxer Nikolai Valuev appeared before the audience, portraying the famous Uncle Styopa.

"Welcome to the 22nd Olympic Games in Sochi. Our city is unique, like the whole of Russia. We are proud of the right to host the Olympic Games. In 2007, Vladimir Putin told the President of Guatemala about his dream of hosting the Olympic Games. Then this dream seemed impossible. We sought to break stereotypes, open to the world new Russia. We give you these Games. Hot, winter, yours,” said the first speaker, Russian businessman and sports organizer Dmitry Chernyshenko.

“Everything that would take decades from other countries was organized here in seven years ... Many thanks to the volunteers who showed the famous Russian hospitality. The Olympic Games should become an example of peace, because they unite people,” Thomas Bach greeted everyone.

olympic flag actress Chulpan Khamatova, hockey player Vyacheslav Fetisov, the first female cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, conductor Valery Gergiev, director Nikita Mikhalkov. Following them came the opera diva Anna Netrebko, who sang the anthem of the Olympic Games.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Minister of Sports Vitaly Mutko, entrepreneurs Roman Abramovich and Viktor Vekselberg, coach of figure skating Tatyana Tarasova, Prince Albert II of Monaco with his wife Charlene Wittstock, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych and many others.

Team Russia

Team USA

Team Germany
The honor to carry the Olympic flame into the arena fell to tennis player Maria Sharapova, who passed the torch to pole vaulter Elena Isinbayeva, who will soon become a mother! Further, wrestler Alexander Karelin took the fire, after him - gymnast Alina Kabaeva. Three-time Olympic and 10-time world champions Vladislav Tretiak and Irina Rodnina lit the fire, and Rodnina is the only athlete in the world to win all her competitions. The Olympics are open!

12 interesting facts about the opening ceremony of the XXII Winter Games.

1. The ceremony began on 02/07/2014 at 20.14 Moscow time at the Fisht stadium and took about three hours.

2. More than 3,000 young talents participated in the mass production scenes, which showed dance, ballet, acrobatic and circus numbers.

3. Assisted in the organization of ceremonies on the grounds, backstage and on the territory Olympic Park 2000 volunteers.

4. At the beginning of the Opening Ceremony, several vivid video clips about Russia were shown. After that, Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed the audience. Then, to the sounds of the Russian anthem, the flag of the host country of the 2014 Games was raised.

5. Instead of the traditional passage of athletes during the parade of nations, athletes climbed onto the stage along a special 48-meter ramp located in the center of the stadium.

6. Representatives of 88 delegations took part in the parade of nations.

7. In total, more than 6,000 costumes were made for the participants of the show.

8. After the official speeches by President of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee D. Chernyshenko and President of the International Olympic Committee T. Baha, President of Russia V. Putin declared the XXII Olympic Winter Games open. During the performance of the Olympic anthem (sung by opera singer Anna Netrebko), the Olympic flag was raised at the stadium.

9. The culmination of the ceremony is the lighting of the Olympic cauldron. The flame of the XXII Olympic Winter Games in 2014 is lit with a torch that has been in space.

10. The theatrical performance told about the history of Russia: from the birth of statehood to the present.

11. The role of the girl Lyuba, who traveled through the history of our country at the opening ceremony of the Olympics, was played by 11-year-old Elizaveta Temnikova. A fragile girl, like a white cloud fluttering on the ropes above the arena - the main character of the production of "Dreams of Russia" was chosen from hundreds of applicants. Katya s early childhood is engaged in gymnastics and dreams of getting into the Olympic team of our country in the future.

12. The standard-bearer of the Russian national team was a famous bobsledder, 39-year-old Alexander Zubkov. He has been involved in luge since the age of 10. For the first time he took part in the Winter Olympics in 1998 in Nagano (Japan). He has silver in Turin 2006 and bronze in Vancouver 2010, as well as 6 World Championship medals, including gold in 2011.

13. The team that prepared the ceremony included 5 people. - This:
- Konstantin Ernst - Chief creative producer of ceremonies and scriptwriter;
- Georgy Tsypin - production designer and scriptwriter;
- Andrei Boltenko - director and screenwriter;
- Andrey Nasonovsky - executive producer of ceremonies;
- Irina Prokhorova - Executive Director of the ANO Agency for Ceremonies.

14. The Opening Ceremony was crowned with a large-scale fireworks display of 3,500 volleys.

Below you can see more striking, in my opinion, photos from the ceremony:

(© Peter Parki / AFP / Getty Images)

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Artists during a theatrical performance at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi on February 7, 2014.

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The main heroine of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games was played by 11-year-old gymnast from Krasnodar Liza Temnikova, February 7, 2014.

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Theatrical performance during the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi on February 7, 2014.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach applaud after the Russian national anthem is played on February 7, 2014.

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Team USA flag bearer Todd Lodwick during a parade of athletes and members of national delegations on February 7, 2014.

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Team from Austria

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Members of the Russian team

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Russian ship is projected at the Fisht Stadium

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A look at Russia's Soviet past in Sochi on February 7, 2014.

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(© Antonin Thuillier / AFP / Getty Images)
Liza Temnikova participates in the performance

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(© Peter Parki / AFP / Getty Images)

(© Reuters) link

The best shots of the opening ceremony (in my opinion):

1. A girl launches a kite and flies with him. The girl's name is Love. The whole action is called "Dreams of Russia". Kamchatka volcanoes, Russian villages, cows, the Lena River, Baikal, the Russian North, Chukotka rush under it.

2. The Russian flag was raised by cosmonauts Sergey Krikalev, Svetlana Savitskaya, Roman Romanenko, Fedor Yurchikhin and Elena Serova. The anthem of Russia was performed by the choir of the Moscow Sretensky Monastery.

3. For the first time, the talismans were chosen through an open universal vote, following which largest number White Bear, Leopard and Bunny received votes.

4. The Russian team is coming! Under "They won't catch up with us" by the Tatu group. The standard-bearer of the Russian national team - bobsledder Alexander Zubkov.

5. Three horses float through the air. The white winter troika brings the sun.

6. Colorful, multi-color show.

7. Danila Korsuntsev and Svetlana Zakharova, together with the rest of the ballet dancers, present a theatricalized version of War and Peace.

8. Girl Lyuba, traveling in a dream through the history and culture of Russia.

9. Tennis player Maria Sharapova carried the Olympic Flame of the 2014 Winter Olympics to the Fisht stadium. Further, the torch was handed over to Elena Isinbayeva, Alexander Karelin ...

10. Strong performance, incredible show, large-scale performances, crazy special effects - all this is the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. The Olympics have begun! We wish everyone good luck!
To be honest, I was just dumbfounded! Sat with his wife with open mouths. How could all this be organized? Thank you so much for such a spectacle, Russia!

The opening ceremony marked the beginning Winter Olympics 2014 in Sochi, Russia February 7, 2014. The torch was lit after a dazzling show and fireworks.

1. Dancers perform during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony at the Fisht Olympic Stadium February 7 in Sochi, Russia.

2. Scenes from several of the seven islands that represent Russia's diversity float past during the opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics at the Fisht Olympic Stadium February 7 in Sochi.

3. Russian families gather at the port of Sochi to watch a live television broadcast of the 2014 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony, February 7, in downtown Sochi, Russia.

Glowing athletes line up to form the Russian flag during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony at the Fisht Olympic Stadium on February 7 in Sochi, Russia.

5. Fireworks over the Olympic Park during the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, February 7.

6. Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, February 7.

8. The Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics mascots, a bear and a leopard, take part in the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony on February 7.

9. Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Olympic Games, Fisht, Olympic Stadium, Sochi.

10. Dancers perform among huge inflatable helium figures, creating elements of St. Basil's Cathedral during the opening ceremony in Sochi 2014 Olympic Games.

11. Top view of floating figures representing St. Basil's Cathedral during the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.

Zimbabwe's flag bearer Luke Stein represents his country's athletes during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

13. Skier Maria Hoefl-Riesch of the German Olympic team carries the flag of her country during the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Fisht Olympic Stadium. The photograph was taken using a variable focal lens.

14. Lithuanian flag bearer Deividas Stegniunas leads his country's group during the parade of athletes at the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi 2014.

15. Flag bearer Todd Lodwick USA (L) leads his country's group during the parade of athletes at the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

16. Russian families gather and wave their national flags during the national anthem while watching a live television broadcast of the 2014 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in downtown Sochi, Russia.

17. Russian model Irina Shayk leads Russia's flag bearer, bobsledder Alexander Zubkov, and a delegation during the Sochi Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony at the Fisht Olympic Stadium.

18. Dancers present Natasha Rostova's First Ball during the 2014 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony at the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi, Russia.

19. Self-propelled lifting platforms and banners create a cityscape during the opening ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games, Fisht, Olympic Stadium.

20. Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the Sochi Olympics in 2014.

21. A small Russian boy being hugged by his father while watching a live television broadcast of the 2014 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in downtown Sochi, Russia.

22. Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

23. Dancers perform in the production Time Forward! / The Suprematist Ballet during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics opening ceremony at the Fisht Olympic Stadium.

24. Actors perform in costumes from the era of Peter the Great during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi at the Fisht Olympic Stadium.

25. Ballet dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.

26. Dancers perform during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony at the Fisht Olympic Stadium.

27. General form stadium during the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony at the Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi, Russia.

28. Fireworks behind the Olympic torch after it was lit at the end of the 2014 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in Sochi, Russia.

[:RU]We offer you the 2nd part of bright photos from the opening ceremony of the XXII Olympic Games in Sochi. Watch and enjoy.

More than 3,000 young talents are participating in the mass production scenes, which will show dance, ballet, acrobatic and circus numbers.

The opening of the Sochi Olympics was produced by the general director of Channel One, Konstantin Ernst. The director of the show was Andrey Boltenko, who made the Moscow Eurovision Song Contest in 2009 and a number of projects of the First, and several wonderful people helped him at once. For example, set designer Georgy Tsypin, choreographer from the Cirque du Soleil Shana Carroll and make-up artist (from the same place) Natalie Simrad. And that's not all - Ernst gathered a considerable team.

Georgy Tsypin - stage designer, artist, architect. Participated in the Venice Biennale in 2002. He designed performances at the New York Metropolitan Opera, the Paris National Opera, La Scala in Milan, Covent Garden, and at the Salzburg Festival.

Collaborated with the St. Petersburg Mariinsky - there he worked on the operas "War and Peace", "The Gambler" by Prokofiev, "Boris Godunov" by Mussorgsky, "Siegfried", "The Death of the Gods" by Wagner. At the Bolshoi Theater he staged the opera Turandot by Puccini, and in 2004 he took part in the first production at the Bolshoi Theater of S. Prokofiev's opera The Fiery Angel. Tsypin was the production designer for the Broadway musicals The Little Mermaid and Spider-man: Turn off the Dark (the most expensive musical in history). Serious master, in general.

The details of the ceremony were kept in the deepest secrecy. However, the organizers managed to completely preserve the intrigue only in a few moments: either the invited stars will not stand it and share their joy with fans (and millions of Internet users) on Twitter or social networks, or the audience of dress rehearsals, despite strict non-disclosure agreements, will tell something.

It is known that the opening ceremony will last 160 minutes. In total, more than 12,000 people are involved in the implementation of the opening ceremony of the XXII Olympic Winter Games in 2014. More than 3,000 artists will take part in mass production scenes, including dance, ballet, acrobatic and circus numbers. 6,000 costumes were made for the ceremony participants.

For the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, athletes will climb the stage on a special 48-meter ramp located in the center of the stadium. More than 3000 participants of the Olympiad will take part in the parade of nations, representing 88 delegations. The Olympic cauldron will be lit by a torch that has been in space.

Teams go to alphabetical order, established in the host country of the Games, that is, this time - in the order of the Russian alphabet. Australians habitually act as the second after Greece. Not like in Beijing, where, due to the peculiarities of local characters, they had to go out with 202s.

Hong Kong participates in the Olympic Games separately from the Chinese team, but their confrontation with the Chinese, of course, is not as intense as that of the Taiwanese. Indeed, it is more about Summer Games, and more specifically - table tennis.

The Canadians painted the field of the Fisht Stadium red with their suits. The flag of the great hockey country is carried by the representative of this particular ice sport - Haley Wickenheiser.

To the left of Putin, and to the right for the audience, stands Irina Skvortsova, a bobsledder who was injured in 2009 in Germany during a training descent. Doctors thought that she would never be able to walk, but now she cheerfully keeps near the president.

The role of the Snow Maiden accompanying our team is Russian model Irina Shayk. The standard-bearer of our country is 39-year-old bobsledder Alexander Zubkov. This Olympics will be his third in professional career. He previously won silver and bronze at the Turin and Vancouver Games, respectively. In addition, he has the gold of the 2011 World Championship and four awards of the highest standard at the European Championships.

As the team walks down the catwalk, a map of the Earth projected onto the arena displays the name of the country and shows its position on the map.

flag bearer election Russian team at some point turned into a problem. One athlete refused, then another. Yes, there is a legend that the national flag brings bad luck. But she is from the same series that the Russian national football team loses only because Viktor Gusev commentates on her matches. The same Evgeni Plushenko and Ivan Skobrev refused the role of standard-bearer for completely objective reasons.

The British come out in some kind of Soviet hats with earflaps. Spectators at the stadium in bunny hats.

An unusual theatrical show at the opening of the Winter Games in Albertville was made in 1992 by the famous artist and choreographer Philippe Decoufle. His success led to a race to make his performance better, more magnificent and more solemn than it was last time. The task, to put it mildly, is not an easy one.

In 2012, director of the London Olympics opening ceremony, Danny Boyle, said Beijing put on such a mind-blowing performance that it's hard to beat. Boyle chose to captivate audiences with content rather than the visual concept of the show. By the way, Boyle is not the only director who was assigned the ceremony. In 2008, the opening of the Olympic Games in Beijing was staged by the world-famous Chinese director Zhang Yimou.

Russian oligarch R. Abramovich at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi

Each team is accompanied by colorful Snow Maidens in headdresses resembling branched deer antlers.

Opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi

40,000 spectators are watching the ceremony from the stands of the Fisht stadium.

Opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi

The flag of Azerbaijan was supposed to be carried by Fuad Guliyev, the prime minister of the country in 1995–1996. But then he was replaced by Patrick Brachner, a naturalized skier.

Opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi

“Good evening, Sochi!”, “Good evening, Russia!” - the head of the IOC Thomas Bach, the 1976 Olympic champion in fencing, welcomes everyone in Russian.

The Olympic symbols are giant robotic figures. Very realistic move, even scary. How alive. And they blink.

Opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi

A relative of the Queen of Great Britain at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi

Opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi

For the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, the mascots of the Sochi 2014 Olympics were chosen through an open universal vote, following which the White Bear, Leopard and Bunny received the largest number of votes. Vladimir Putin supported the Leopard, Dmitry Medvedev liked the White Bear more. More than 270 thousand people took part in the voting. In total, 24,048 works were sent to the competition.

Opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi

In the role of Natasha Rostova - prima of the Bolshoi Theater Svetlana Zakharova. Her father is Vladimir Vasilyev, Andrey Bolkonsky is Danila Korsuntsev, Pierre Bezukhov is Alexander Petukhov, the war hero is Ivan Vasilyev.

Opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach and Russian President Vladimir Putin watching the opening ceremony of the XXII Winter Olympic Games in Sochi

Olympic anthem performed by opera diva Anna Netrebko.

Canadians in Vancouver 2010 dedicated a ceremony to the Georgian bobsledder Nodar Kumaritashvili who died on the opening day of the games, managing to rebuild the ceremony, adjusted to the centimeter and second, in a few hours. They nevertheless presented the country in full.

Opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi

225 people in the column of the Russian team.

Opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi

Actress Chulpan Khamatova, hockey player Vyacheslav Fetisov, speed skater Lidia Skoblikova, journalist Anastasia Popova, cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, director Nikita Mikhalkov, conductor Valery Gergiev and racing driver Alan Enileev carry the Olympic flag around the stadium.

In the US, old age is respected. The star-striped flag is carried by the Nordic combined athlete Todd Loddwick, who arrived at the sixth Olympics.

Opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi

The last two parts of the performance are called "Dove of Peace" and "Olympic Gods". As the organizers explain, in the world of symbols, including the Olympic ones, the dove occupies a place of honor. Therefore, the dizzying choreography performed by the world-famous Vishneva, combined with modern technologies will create a unique image of a magic dove.

The prima ballerina of the Mariinsky Theater Diana Vishneva appears on the stage to the music of P. I. Tchaikovsky.

Russian tennis player and Olympic medalist Maria Sharapova carries the Olympic torch at the Fisht Olympic Stadium on February 7, 2014.

The lighting of the Olympic flame in the Olympic chalice at the end of the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Fireworks against the backdrop of the lit Olympic flame at the end of the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

The Olympic flame burns.

This report is available in high definition.

The Fisht stadium in Sochi hosted a colorful and technically ambitious opening ceremony for the 2014 Winter Olympics. The show was based on an excursion into the history of Russia and a ballet performance based on Natasha Rostova's ball, and a view of our planet from space was projected onto a special floor of the arena.

Spectators attending the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi on February 7. (Photo by Reuters | Mark Blinch):

Sunset over the Olympic Park. (Photo by Scott Halleran | Getty Images):

The ceremony began at a symbolic time - 20:14. The show was created by a creative team led by Channel One CEO Konstantin Ernst. (Photo by Damien Meyer | AFP | Getty Images):

The main theme of the performance is "Dreams about Russia", and the main character is a girl named Lyubov. By the way, this is it, hovering over the arena on the ropes. (Photo by AP Photo | Mark Humphrey):

A little girl (she is seen in the frame, hovering over the stadium) sees in a dream Russia and its history in different periods. (Photo by Quinn Rooney | Getty Images):

Islands and volcanoes float around the arena. Sailing Chukotka with deer and yurts. Actors appear from the fog, symbolizing the peoples inhabiting Russia. Huge hanging decorations. It looked really great. (Photo by Damien Meyer | AFP | Getty Images):

Then 5 huge snowflakes increased and turned into Olympic rings. (Photo by Reuters/Pawel Kopczynski):

The presentation continues. (Photo by AP Photo | David J. Phillip):

(Photo by AP Photo | Mark Humphrey):

Athletes soar above the Olympic Stadium. (Photo by Richard Heathcote | Getty Images):

(Photo by Ryan Pierse | Getty Images):

The magical show is over. Athletes appear in the arena and carry a torch to the bowl to light the fire of the Games. The first was tennis player Maria Sharapova. (Photo):

The fire of the Games was lit by Vladislav Tretyak and Irina Rodnina. (Photo by Reuters | Pool):

The fire of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. (Photo by Robert Cianflone | Getty Images):

The show came to an end, fireworks began over the Olympic Stadium. (Photo by AP Photo | Julio Cortez):

The world praised the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. The Bulgarian media gave the most enthusiastic reviews. (Photo by Loic Venance | AFP | Getty Images):

"The hype surrounding these $51 billion Olympic Games was perhaps more than any other event in recent history and had nothing to do with sports." (Wall Street Journal)

British media awarded the opening ceremony of the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi with the epithets "amazing", "exciting" and "unforgettable". (Photo by Reuters | Shamil Zhumatov):

“Russia opened the Games in Sochi with chic and pride. The story was told - from the tsarist military power to Soviet monumentalism and space flight. (New York Times)

(Photo by Peter Parks | AFP | Getty Images):

"Impressive, the best show I've ever seen." (American skier Eric Fisher)

(Photo by Peter Parks | AFP | Getty Images):

"Great spectacle, based on sports, not politics." (Swiss media)

(Photo by Reuters | Shamil Zhumatov):

And indeed, enough politics, let's watch the Olympic Games and cheer for our athletes. Opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics, February 7. (Photo by Alexander Nemenov | AFP | Getty Images):

0 February 7, 2014, 20:16

Irina Shayk and Alexander Zubkov

The grand opening of the Winter Olympics will begin in a few minutes. the site tells about the colorful holiday in real time.

It is known that the opening of the Olympics will be one of the largest events of 2014: this can be judged by the numbers: 1200 dancers, 980 acrobats, 12 opera soloists, 10 ballet soloists and even 25 puppeteers will take part in the ceremony. In total, 2635 artists will be involved in the show.

Among the high-ranking persons who will visit the Sochi Olympics are UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. The President of Russia will open the Olympic Games in Sochi. It is also reported that a star couple and will arrive in the Olympic capital. Among the spectators of the Olympics -, with and others.

The stands of the Fisht stadium are filled to capacity: everyone is waiting for the Olympic flame to be lit. The ceremony was hosted by showman and business lady Yana Churikova.

Ivan Urgant and Yana Churikova

The output of commands is announced in three languages - French, English and, of course, Russian: the protocol is such a protocol.

And so it began! The audience sees the ceremony through the prism of the dream of a little girl, Luba, who is just starting to learn the alphabet. First, five snowflakes appear above the stadium, which are transformed into five multi-colored rings - the symbol of the Olympic Games.

snowflakes turn...

...in elegant rings"

Then the head of the IOC Thomas Bach and Russian President Vladimir Putin appear at the stadium, the Russian anthem is played, it is performed by the choir.

Thomas Bach and Vladimir Putin

Finally, teams appear at the stadium. The first, according to tradition, the athletes of the Greek national team enter the “arena”. Our athletes, as "hosts" - go out last. A total of 88 teams take part in the Games.

Australian team

Our eastern neighbor appears at the stadium - the national team of Belarus - its president Alexander Lukashenko welcomes it standing. Behind the Belarusians are the athletes of the Bermuda team. They are in shorts, and, mind you, in Sochi the temperature is plus six.

The teams go out in alphabetical order: the queue for the Venezuelan national team. Athletes march to the remix of Viktor Tsoi's song.

Germany national team

We got to the letter "i": after Israel and Iran comes Ireland. Guess which country will be next? Of course Iceland!

Israel national team

The musical accompaniment of the defile of the teams is Russian music: "My rock and roll" by Bi-2 and Chicherina sounds.

Kazakh athletes appear at the stadium: Nursultan Nazarbayev also welcomes the team of his country while standing. The national team of the Cayman Islands "surpassed" even the Bermudians in clothes - the athletes went to the Olympic site in shorts and flip flops. Then one of the main "competitors" of Russia appears at the stadium in winter activities sports - Canada.

Team Canada

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Queen Maxima

We are in the middle of the alphabet - the Norwegian team is in the arena: the strongest skiers and skiers, direct competitors of our athletes in the fight for gold.

Romania left. Now the DJ has put a remix on the track of the group "Guests from the Future" "Run from me". It's a hint?

Team United States came out: in designer uniform from . We got to the letter "u" - Uzbekistan and Ukraine go to the stadium. By the way, Viktor Yanukovych, the President of Ukraine, despite the "small", came to personally support the team of his country.

Norway team

At this time, a remix of Bulat Okudzhava's song "There is only a moment" is playing at the stadium. Commentators got to the letter "e" - the Estonian team is at the stadium.

Finally, the Russian team enters the arena - the most numerous of those presented - to the sounds of the song t.a.T.u. "Not gonna get us". She is led by "snowflake" - a top model, and bobsledder Alexander Zubkov is the flag bearer.

Russian team and "snowflake" Irina Shayk

So, all the teams in the stadium - fireworks! Then to the tune of "Well, wait a minute!" symbols of the 2014 Olympics roll out onto the ice - Polar bear Pole, Bunny Strelka and Leopard.

And the show begins: across the sky above Olympic stadium the Russian troika floats - like the deepest, Gogol symbol.

Then the girl Lyuba, the one in whose dream the Olympics "burst" - sees Shrovetide: with buffoons, pancakes, songs and dances - this is pagan Rus'. Then, in Luba's dream, Moscow appears with the golden domes of St. Basil's Cathedral - Christianity appeared in Rus'.

Then Ancient Rus' is transformed: Peter I ascends the throne: a fleet is built, the beards of the boyars are shaved off.

The girl's dream takes us back to the time of the victory of the Russian Empire over Napoleon - the times described in Leo Tolstoy's "War and Peace": ballet prima Svetlana Zakharova dances to the composition of Alexander Doga - a waltz from the movie "My Sweet and Gentle Beast". To a beautiful melody, she - Natasha Rostova - at her first ball.

To the tune of "Time, forward" we are transported to new era: a revolution takes place, the proletarians get power.

We have reached the time of the Great patriotic war. However, our nation coped with this: to the sounds of "I'm walking around Moscow," the nation entered the new time, where there is a place for Uncle Stepa Sergei Mikhalkov (whose role, by the way, was played by Nikolai Valuev) and the construction of communism. The 50s passed, the 60s came - we began to explore space, the 70s made noise with a twist and dudes, and the 80 Olympics are just around the corner.

Finally Lyuba wakes up in the present: a bright, peaceful morning. They give her a balloon. She releases it into the sky and watches the balloon fly away.

The show ends, it's time for the official part: the President of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, Sochi resident Dmitry Chernyshenko welcomes the guests of the Olympics in three languages:

We give you these Games: Hot. Winter. Yours.

Thomas Bach and Dmitry Chernyshenko

It was the turn to give a speech to Thomas Bach. He thanks Vladimir Putin and the members of the Olympic Committee and speaks in Russian:

Many thanks to the volunteers!

Finally, Vladimir Putin opens the XXII Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. His last word continues with a magnificent salute.

In the Olympic arena - the symbol of the Olympic Games - a dove. The dance tells about the Flood, the role of the dove is performed to the music of Pyotr Tchaikovsky "Swan Lake".

The Olympic flag is brought onto the stadium field: actress and volunteer, hockey player Vyacheslav Fetisov, speed skater Lidia Skoblikova, Anastasia Popova, the first female cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, conductor, director and e-sportsman Alan Enileev.

Chulpan Khamatova, Vyacheslav Fetisov, Lydia Skoblikova, Anastasia Popova, Valentina Tereshkova, Valery Gergiev, Nikita Mikhalkov and Alan Enileev

The Olympic anthem is performed by the world-famous opera diva, a native of Kuban: the audience listens to it while standing.

The turn of the Olympic oaths comes: first, Ruslan Zakharov, a native of Ufa, swears, then Vyacheslav Vedenin takes the oath of the Olympic Games, Anastasia Popkova takes the oath on behalf of the coaches.

Then the star lords of the skates appear on the rink: they form a figure resembling an eye, it is directed to the sky, the theme of reflection from the movie "Stalker" sounds. In response, the Olympic gods appear in the sky: there are as many of them as there are disciplines in the Winter Games.

Alina Kabaeva, Alexander Karelin, Elena Isinbaeva and Masha Sharapova

But no - Olympic champion By rhythmic gymnastics passes it on! And she - hockey player Vladislav Tretiak.

Vladislav Tretiak and Irina Rodnina

The fire goes backstage along with Rodnina and Tretyak through the "corridor" of people from different eras, where Olympic champions in the "winter" disciplines, it is lit: finally, the Fire burns in the Sochi Olympic Cup.

Tretiak and Rodnina light the Olympic flame

Games are open! Moreover, houses and walls help.

olympic fire