Let the games begin: Sochi Olympics starts off strong
The Fisht Olympic Stadium, taken by Atos International
Photos taken by Atos International/ Creative Commons Licensed
Even though it seemed the rest of Sochi was not prepared, the opening ceremony on Day 1 of the Winter Olympics proved just the opposite.
At 8:14 p.m. local time — or Greenwich Mean Time, plus four hours — on Feb. 7, the almost three-hour extravaganza began, recounting Russia’s turbulent history. However, the main focus was the history of their industrial revolution, with performers setting down a fresh railroad; the famous Bolshoi Ballet, featuring a scene from Tolstoy’s “War and Peace”; and a traditional matrimonial dance displaying Russian marriage values, which was slightly ironic considering recent passage of severe anti gay-marriage laws by the Russian Parliament.
The only hitch in the entire ceremony was that one of the Olympic rings did not expand from a star shape. Russian television stations, however, doctored the footage so that it appeared to open. All in all, however, the opening ceremony was beautifully performed.
To see more, check out Sochi Moments under the Special Projects tab above, or check it out at sochimoments.tumblr.com, part of the Urban Legend’s tumblr blog.
