WEB 2014 Sochi Olympic Opening Ceremony

Sochi Olympic Opening Ceremony extended highlights

Join the spectacular event and see Russia take center stage

Extended highlights from the spectacular opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics that took place in Sochi, Russia. The ceremony featured a stunning display of Russian culture and history, with performances from some of the world's top athletes. Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the Games open, marking the official start of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

The ceremony began with a countdown to the start of the Games. A large digital clock appeared in the center of the stadium, counting down the seconds until the opening ceremony would begin. Fireworks lit up the sky as the clock reached zero, and the ceremony officially began.

The first segment of the ceremony celebrated Russian culture and history. A group of dancers performed a traditional Russian folk dance, and a choir sang the Russian national anthem. The ceremony also featured a performance by the Bolshoi Ballet, one of the world's most famous ballet companies.