![2014 Winter Olympic Games - Opening Ceremony Liza Temnikova as Lyubov performs Voices of Russia during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/opening-ceremony-sochi-winter-olympics-001-1.jpg?quality=85&w=2400)
By TIME Photo
![2014 Winter Olympic Games - Opening Ceremony Irina Rodnina and Vladislav Tretyak light the Olympic cauldron while fireworks explode during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Feb. 7, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/opening-ceremony-sochi-winter-olympics-032.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![2014 Winter Olympic Games - Opening Ceremony Liza Temnikova as Lyubov performs Voices of Russia during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/opening-ceremony-sochi-winter-olympics-001-1.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![2014 Winter Olympic Games - Opening Ceremony Snowflakes hover above performers of Voices of Russia.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/opening-ceremony-sochi-winter-olympics-028.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Performers take part in opening ceremony for 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics Performers take part in the opening ceremony for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/opening-ceremony-sochi-winter-olympics-005.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![APTOPIX Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremony One of the Olympic rings fails to open during the opening ceremony.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/opening-ceremony-sochi-winter-olympics-0291.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![2014 Winter Olympic Games - Opening Ceremony Athlete marshals light up to form a Russian flag.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/opening-ceremony-sochi-winter-olympics-010.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Vladimir Putin, Thomas Bach Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, left, applaud during the playing of the Russian national anthem.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/opening-ceremony-sochi-winter-olympics-007.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![2014 Winter Olympic Games - Opening Ceremony Nordic combined skier Mario Stecher of the Austria Olympic team carries his country's flag during.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/opening-ceremony-sochi-winter-olympics-008.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremony](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/opening-ceremony-sochi-winter-olympics-033.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Russia's flag-bearer Alexander Zubkov leads his country's contingent during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics Russia's flag-bearer Alexander Zubkov leads his country's contingent.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/opening-ceremony-sochi-winter-olympics-034.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Opening ceremony of XXII Winter Olympic Games Sochi 2014 mascots prepare to come on stage during the opening ceremony.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/opening-ceremony-sochi-olympics.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremony Characters perform during the opening ceremony.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/opening-ceremony-sochi-winter-olympics-021.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![2014 Winter Olympic Games - Opening Ceremony Performers with balloons representing St. Basil's cathedral.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/opening-ceremony-sochi-winter-olympics-024.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![OLY-2014-OPENING-CEREMONY A scene showing the heritage of Russia is portrayed during the Opening Ceremony.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/opening-ceremony-sochi-winter-olympics-035.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Performers are seen during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics Performers are seen during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/opening-ceremony-sochi-winter-olympics-023.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![2014 Winter Olympic Games - Opening Ceremony Dancers perform during the Opening Ceremony.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/opening-ceremony-sochi-winter-olympics-036.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![2014 Winter Olympic Games - Opening Ceremony A general view of atmosphere during the Opening Ceremony.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/opening-ceremony-olympics-4.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremony Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremony](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/opening-ceremony-sochi-olympics-2.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremony Actors perform "Swan Lake" during the opening ceremony.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/opening-ceremony-sochi-winter-olympics-030-1.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![A performer dances during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics A performer dances during the opening ceremony.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/opening-ceremony-sochi-winter-olympics-037.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![The Olympic flag is paraded past the Russian flag during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics The Olympic flag is paraded past the Russian flag.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/opening-ceremony-sochi-winter-olympics-038.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Suspended figures representing different winter sports are illuminated during opening ceremony for 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics Suspended figures representing different winter sports illuminate.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/opening-ceremony-sochi-winter-olympics-039.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics Performers take part in the opening ceremony.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/opening-ceremony-sochi-winter-olympics-040.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Russian tennis player Sharapova holds the Olympic Torch during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova holds the Olympic Torch.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/opening-ceremony-sochi-olympics-3.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremony The Olympic Cauldron is lit during the opening ceremony.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/opening-ceremony-sochi-winter-olympics-042.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
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