Sochi 2014: Winter Olympics

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Sochi 2014: Winter Olympics

CNN brings you daily coverage of the Winter Games, with in-depth analysis and behind-the scenes shots from our dedicated teams on the ground in Sochi.

3rd & 7 37yd

Our CNN World Sport (@WorldSportCNN) anchor Amanda Davies is out sampling the sights and sounds of Sochi, where it's not just sport on offer.
Amanda Davies
@AmandaJDavies
With the women's ice hockey underway in the park, entertainment gets going at the media hotel complex #sochi2014 http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bf8DwifIMAADARc.jpg
Feb. 8, 2014
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by tom.mcgowan 2/8/2014 8:39:14 AM
The withdrawal of Winter Olympic hero Shaun White threatened to overshadow today's final, with a debate over the safety of the course raging in the build up to the Games.

Slopestyle is not for the faint of heart, as former Olympic snowboarder Louie Vito explains.

by tom.mcgowan 2/8/2014 8:35:44 AM
Right, there's around 15 minutes to go until our first Olympic final. Excited? You should be.

Slopestyle is making its Olympic debut and it's the men's final which gets us under way.

The gold medal favorite is Canada's Maxence Parrot, the 19-year-old reigning X Games champion.

Britain's Billy Morgan could earn his country's first ever medal on snow after topping this morning's semifinal. As you can see, he was pretty pleased with himself...
billy morgan
@billymorgan89
Aaaahahaha! How did that happen! Me and @jamienichollsuk in the Olympic final! Proper stoked! Right now. @TeamGB
Feb. 8, 2014
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by tom.mcgowan 2/8/2014 8:31:57 AM
Enough fireworks to make the Super Bowl halftime show look like a kid's birthday party
#openingceremonies #sochi #cnnsochi
by rachel_nichols via Instagram

by tom.mcgowan 2/8/2014 8:22:20 AM
More fireworks. I mean, who doesn't love MORE fireworks? #cnnsochi #cnn

by jcmca40cnn via Instagram 2/8/2014 8:21:16 AM
Fireworks over Fisht Stadium in Sochi after Olympic cauldron is lit. #cnnsochi
by ivancnn via Instagram

by tom.mcgowan 2/8/2014 8:20:44 AM
Today, the gold rush begins.

Champions will be crowned in snowboarding, speed skating, biathlon and cross-country skiing, so there is plenty to keep us going on this Super Sochi Saturday.

As always, we want you involved. You can follow the whole CNN team's movements in Russia by checking out the #CNNSochi hashtag on Twitter and Instagram.

By the looks of it, most of our them are still reeling from last night's fireworks. If you didn't see them, you missed a treat. Here's a sample of the biggest night in Sochi's history...

by tom.mcgowan 2/8/2014 8:17:48 AM
It was a night to remember in Sochi. (Getty Images)

by tom.mcgowan 2/8/2014 8:12:38 AM
Fireworks, fireworks and more fireworks. That’s how Sochi welcomed the world during Friday's dazzling Opening Ceremony.

But, with that out of the way, it's time to focus on the sport. In around 45 minutes, all eyes will be on the mountains and the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park for slopestyle's Olympic debut.

It's the men's final and the winner can proudly call themselves the first gold medallist of Sochi 2014.

Expect thrills, spills and jaw-dropping acrobatics.

I'm Tom McGowan, welcome to Day One of the Winter Games.

by tom.mcgowan 2/8/2014 8:04:19 AM
by tom.mcgowan 2/8/2014 8:00:44 AM
After an unforgettable night Sochi, it's time to say goodbye.

But don't worry, we'll both be back tomorrow to lead you through Day One of the Winter Games.

We'll be here every day, from 8am London time right through until 8pm, satisfying all of your Sochi 2014 needs.

Make sure you follow us on Twitter (@WorldSportCNN) and get involved by using the hashtag #CNNSochi

So it's farewell for now, we'll see you back here tomorrow. Deal?

(Getty Images)
by tom.mcgowan

by tom.mcgowan 2/7/2014 7:32:46 PM
Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, enjoys the opening ceremony from his seat high in the Fisht Stadium (Getty Images)

by eoghan.macguire 2/7/2014 7:20:16 PM
Harry Reekie
@HarryCNN
Great view of the Sochi fireworks from the @CNNi live position. Finally the Games are under way.... #cnnsochi http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bf5OaMNIQAAYFb8.jpg
Feb. 7, 2014
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by tom.mcgowan 2/7/2014 7:19:20 PM
Amanda Davies
@AmandaJDavies
#Sochi2014 fireworks were awesome! What did you think of the #OpeningCeremony ?
Feb. 7, 2014
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by tom.mcgowan 2/7/2014 7:14:27 PM
Phil Black
@PhilBlackCNN
Bravo, Russia! Молодец!
Feb. 7, 2014
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by tom.mcgowan 2/7/2014 7:12:21 PM
With the formalities over, the competition begins in earnest tomorrow and there is plenty for you to sink your teeth into.

There's no Shaun White, but the men's snowboard slopestyle final is sure to deliver thrills and spills.

Speed skating begins in the Adler Arena, where Dutchman Sven Kramer will defend his Olympic title over 5,000 meters, while there are also gold medals up for grabs in biathlon and cross-country.

by tom.mcgowan 2/7/2014 7:12:10 PM
The cauldron is lit, now bring on the sport. (Getty Images)

by tom.mcgowan 2/7/2014 7:05:15 PM
Bish, bosh, bang, KAAABLAMMMO!

Here come the fireworks. And more fireworks. And even more fireworks. The Olympic park is illuminated by a spectacular pyrotechnics display!

by eoghan.macguire 2/7/2014 7:02:34 PM
Former Sochi resident Maria Sharapova enters the arena with the Olympic flame (Getty Images)

by eoghan.macguire 2/7/2014 6:59:02 PM
This time is upon us.

Tennis superstar and Sochi girl Maria Sharapova arrives in the arena carrying the Olympic flame.

It's a who's who of Russian sporting royalty, as Sharapova passes the baton to polevaulting legend Yelena Isinbayeva.

Aleksandr Karelin, a greco-roman wrestler of some repute, gets in on the relay before handing on to rhythmic gymnast turned politician Alina Kabaeva.

Finally, we arrive at the chosen two. Figure skating's triple gold medal winner Irina Rodnina and iconic ice hockey goalie Vladislav Tretiak carry the flame out to the space age Olympic Cauldron.

The fuse is lit and as it cauldron catches fire, fireworks blaze across the Sochi sky. Finally, the Olympic Games are upon us.

by tom.mcgowan 2/7/2014 6:57:00 PM
Next up an ode to the Olympic Gods.

Hundreds of skaters resplendent in flashing light-bulb costumes link arms and glide around the arena, cutting myriad shapes before disappearing and leaving us to enjoy an intergalactic light display engulfing the entire stadium.

This is impressive stuff Sochi, impressive stuff!

by eoghan.macguire 2/7/2014 6:48:23 PM
It begins, Vladimir Putin opens the Sochi 2014 Games. (Getty Images)

by tom.mcgowan 2/7/2014 6:39:28 PM
Now we're left with one burning question...

Who will have the honor of lighting the Winter Olympic Cauldron?

It's nearly time, but first we have the swearing of the Olympic oath.

by tom.mcgowan 2/7/2014 6:32:32 PM
IOC president Thomas Bach addresses the crowd in Sochi. (Getty Images)

by tom.mcgowan 2/7/2014 6:31:02 PM
No Opening Ceremony is complete without the speeches and, after hearing from the IOC president and the head of the organizing, it's time for president Putin to declare the Games OPEN.

Cue fireworks, cue cheers, cue jubilation.

by tom.mcgowan 2/7/2014 6:29:11 PM
Olympic games are always about building bridges to bring
people together

Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee

by eoghan.macguire 2/7/2014 6:25:05 PM
We are proud to host the entire world

Dmitry Chernyshenko, president and chief executive of the Sochi organizing committee

by eoghan.macguire 2/7/2014 6:21:32 PM
"The residents of the city of Sochi and Russia have poured a part of their souls into these projects"

Dmitry Chernyshenko, president and chief executive of the Sochi organizing committee

by eoghan.macguire 2/7/2014 6:19:40 PM
Ivana Kottasová
@IvanaKottasova
My favourite Olympic team is Germany, for their cool outfits boast every single colour. #rainbowsforSochi #CNNSochi
Feb. 7, 2014
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by tom.mcgowan 2/7/2014 6:17:22 PM
Team Norway backstage waiting for the opening ceremony. #olympics instagram.com

by Aksel Lund Svindal via twitter 2/7/2014 6:10:47 PM
ben.wyatt
@BenWyattCNN
For anyone new to Marxist theory, that was #Communism in a nutshell. Did it skip over anything? #Sochi2014 #CNNSochi http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bf4-mqaIEAA1hOj.jpg
Feb. 7, 2014
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by tom.mcgowan 2/7/2014 6:08:44 PM
anxious to see the opening ceremonies.

by Dianne Lindberg 2/7/2014 6:07:31 PM
Right, it's time for lift off.

The Soviet Union is reaching for stars and the space race is on!

Classic cars are zooming across the stadium floor, with former heavyweight boxing world champion Nikolai Valuev serving as the largest traffic conductor I have ever seen.

There's prams as well, lots of prams, reflecting Russia's baby boom.

by tom.mcgowan 2/7/2014 6:07:15 PM
Ben Wyatt
@BenWyattCNN
Music: Industrial house? #Sochi2014 #CNNSochi pic.twitter.com/nUVuKOmNAw
Feb. 7, 2014
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by tom.mcgowan 2/7/2014 6:06:27 PM
A sea of red bathes the stadium as we hurtle towards the Russian revolution and the rise of communism, symbolized by a huge, imposing steam train.

If you're a fan of avant-Garde art, then this is most definitely for you.

by tom.mcgowan 2/7/2014 5:58:23 PM
A little bit of Sochi becomes St Petersburg. (Getty Images)
by tom.mcgowan

by tom.mcgowan 2/7/2014 5:54:54 PM
Good spot from my colleague Harry out in Sochi. Maybe it's Queen Elizabeth in the choppers, a-la London 2012!

by eoghan.macguire 2/7/2014 5:52:29 PM
Harry Reekie
@HarryCNN
Looking up at the Sochi sky I can see four helicopters. It's either heavy security or Daniel Craig is making another cameo. #cnnsochi
Feb. 7, 2014
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by tom.mcgowan 2/7/2014 5:51:04 PM
The floor of the Fisht arena is transformed into a roaring sea, signalling the rise of Peter the Great and the Russian navy. Seems a storm is-a-brewing!

Then we transition into a mightily impressive ode to St. Petersburg and an interpretive dance routine representing Leo Tolstoy's epic novel, War and Peace.

I wonder if they'll try fit over 2,000 pages worth of narrative into the rest of the ceremony?

by eoghan.macguire 2/7/2014 5:49:56 PM
All the king's horses... #openingceremonies #sochi #cnnsochi
by rachel_nichols via Instagram

by tom.mcgowan 2/7/2014 5:44:53 PM
Earlier on, we showed you the Sochi medals which were given to each spectator inside the stadium.

Here's what they were for...
Ben Wyatt
@BenWyattCNN
Feb. 7, 2014
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by tom.mcgowan 2/7/2014 5:42:36 PM
ben.wyatt
@BenWyattCNN
I'm guessing this is Czarist Russia? #Sochi2014 #CNNSochi http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bf44j1cIgAEj4Ll.jpg
Feb. 7, 2014
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by tom.mcgowan 2/7/2014 5:40:37 PM
We're back on the history trail, as the ceremony takes us to medieval Russia.

A fantastical, fairytale town is dancing across the arena floor. This is surreal, but brilliant.

Giant puppets and flying acrobats are depicting Russia's emergence as a nation.

And our little girl is back, I wonder what she's got planned...

by tom.mcgowan 2/7/2014 5:40:09 PM
Truly terrifying, I'm sure you'll agree...
ben.wyatt
@BenWyattCNN
That's one big cat right there ... #CNNSochi #Sochi2014 http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bf42mSSIcAEiMEV.jpg
Feb. 7, 2014
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by tom.mcgowan 2/7/2014 5:34:32 PM
And now for something completely different.

After the euphoria which greeted the arrival of the Russian team, we're now presented with three huge, not to mention terrifying, cuddly toys.

A skiing bunny, an ice-skating bear and a massive tiger, another example of impressive animatronics.

Enough to give this writer nightmares...

by tom.mcgowan 2/7/2014 5:31:39 PM