With a spectacular show of lights, fireworks, and pageantry, the opening ceremony for the Sochi Winter Olympics kick-started the games on February 7. Russian President Vladimir Putin was in attendance to officially announce the beginning of the event, which is the most expensive Olympics in history at a cost of some $50 billion. The games will run until February 23.
Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremony
![Fireworks go off over the Fisht Olympic Stadium at the start of the opening ceremony for the Sochi Winter Olympics.](https://gdb.rferl.org/cffd97a3-d4e3-4361-8ce0-0d32ce57c41b_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Fireworks go off over the Fisht Olympic Stadium at the start of the opening ceremony for the Sochi Winter Olympics.
![The 40-000 capacity Fisht Stadium was packed for the ceremony.](https://gdb.rferl.org/6eadfe99-7f2d-418d-950c-b4ee3b8314aa_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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The 40-000 capacity Fisht Stadium was packed for the ceremony.
![The ceremony included several floats illustrating Russia's diverse landscape.](https://gdb.rferl.org/8b3dfd7f-f80e-4bc8-a220-8ed1546b8ec6_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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The ceremony included several floats illustrating Russia's diverse landscape.
![Athlete marshals with LED elements in their costumes create the colours of the Russian flag.](https://gdb.rferl.org/158cae0e-8f92-4cba-868f-dc2a87b86dc4_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Athlete marshals with LED elements in their costumes create the colours of the Russian flag.
![The games' official mascots also put in an appearance. ](https://gdb.rferl.org/24317353-c5f6-43f6-a454-d14d815ae667_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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The games' official mascots also put in an appearance.
![Dancers perform amid a spectacular balloon display representing Moscow's St. Basil's cathedral.](https://gdb.rferl.org/78350504-c6ea-4b4d-9873-ed8b316feab5_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Dancers perform amid a spectacular balloon display representing Moscow's St. Basil's cathedral.
![](https://gdb.rferl.org/87bbc653-aa42-4fcf-bdc7-c75cd49bae1a_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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![](https://gdb.rferl.org/683e2e5d-a06e-44da-adb1-4aa685c4e360_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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![In one of many nods to Russian history, sculptures depicting a hammer and sickle float above a street scene.](https://gdb.rferl.org/6e7340bb-5327-46c8-a8ac-0eb0765bb22a_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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In one of many nods to Russian history, sculptures depicting a hammer and sickle float above a street scene.
![The opening party also included a spectacular fireworks display over the Olympic Park. ](https://gdb.rferl.org/eac855da-2ba3-480d-ace0-088d94a9e663_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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The opening party also included a spectacular fireworks display over the Olympic Park.
![A number of dance routines kept the crowd entertained. ](https://gdb.rferl.org/7962cbaa-954c-4dda-b904-0a80f22b4e36_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A number of dance routines kept the crowd entertained.
![](https://gdb.rferl.org/5548c23b-d3c4-4478-869c-4abea6a7a963_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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![](https://gdb.rferl.org/ded95274-a198-44ac-8c7d-861ba66a3db1_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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![Giant columns columns rise from trap doors in the stadium floor](https://gdb.rferl.org/5b7f8922-56e7-4861-ab1f-8153d72f5302_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Giant columns columns rise from trap doors in the stadium floor
![The Olympic flag is carried into the stadium. ](https://gdb.rferl.org/6f961372-d38e-406c-8ae1-dd2af23c3533_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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The Olympic flag is carried into the stadium.
![There were plenty of world leaders and dignitaries in attendance (first three people from left to right): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon of South Korea, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach of Germany and Russian President Vladimir Putin](https://gdb.rferl.org/c4a8d408-722c-4418-88d7-bf7fb0dd1548_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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There were plenty of world leaders and dignitaries in attendance (first three people from left to right): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon of South Korea, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach of Germany and Russian President Vladimir Putin
![Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova carries the Olympic flame. ](https://gdb.rferl.org/f528e74e-918d-4b36-aaa3-5526cca19169_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova carries the Olympic flame.
![Fireworks explode behind the Olympic flame cauldron at the end of the opening ceremony.](https://gdb.rferl.org/61d6eb9f-5716-48e9-8971-883af111286d_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Fireworks explode behind the Olympic flame cauldron at the end of the opening ceremony.