KEY IDEAS : 1. The Winter Olympics opening ceremony was dynamic and stunning. 2. Many country leaders attended the ceremony. 3. The US President and the leaders of key EU states were not present.
THE Winter Olympics Games in Sochi (索契) opened with a stunning ceremony last Friday.
The dynamic ceremony at the 40,000-person capacity Fisht stadium on the Black Sea (黑海) got off to a bumpy start. One of the five illuminated snowflakes which were to change into the Olympic rings failed to appear, leaving an embarrassing set of just four rings.
But afterwards the show charmed and stunned hundreds of millions of spectators around the world, taking them on a lightning tour of Russian history and culture.
In recognition of Russia's (俄羅斯) proud sporting past, the Olympic cauldron was lit by two triple gold-winning Soviet winter sports icons as fireworks rained into the sky. They were figure skater Irina Rodnina and ice hockey legend Vladislav Tretyak.
The flame had been brought into the stadium by US-based Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova.
In line with Olympic protocol, President Putin made no speech other than declaring the Games open.
He said, "I declare the 22nd Winter Olympic Games open."
The Russian president welcomed more than 40 other heads of state and leaders for the ceremony. They included UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平).
However, US President Barack Obama as well as the leaders of key EU states Britain (英國), France (法國) and Germany (德國) were absent. Their absence is seen by many as a snubover Russia's notorious anti-gay law.
Some 3,500 fireworks weighing a total of 22.5 tonnes were set off in the course of the ceremony with some 3,000 performers and 2,000 volunteers.
The ceremony aimed to tell the story of Russia's history – from ancient times through theimperial era and the revolution – in a way that Russians and foreigners would find comprehensive and exciting.
It also included a new ballet based on the ball scene from Tolstoy's novel War and Peace. It was performed by dance stars including Svetlana Zakharova of the Bolshoi Ballet and superstar Ivan Vasliev.
Many athletes, however, decided not to attend the opening ceremony because they would be on their skates or skis the next day.
(AFP, 8 February, 2014)
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