Winter Olympics 2018: Opening ceremony in Pyeongchang

Summary

23rd Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea
Athletes from North and South Korea march under unified flag
Skeleton champion Lizzy Yarnold carries GB flag
169 Russian athletes set to compete as neutrals
Get involved using #bbcolympics

Live Reporting

Michael Emons

Let the Games beginpublished at 13:39 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2018
And that is the end of the opening ceremony and the end of this live page. Thank you for joining us.
We will have live coverage on television, radio and online throughout the event so please do join us again soon. Our live page will be going again at 00:00 GMT.
After a spectacular show, let the Games begin!
Image source, Getty Images
Watch: The Olympic Torch is lit at Winter Olympics 2018published at 13:33 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2018
Torvill & Dean on toppublished at 13:31 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2018
Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have, ahem, skated to victory in our poll on your greatest British Winter Olympics moment.
The ice dance duo came in ahead of skier Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards. The vote is now closed.
Coming up on the BBCpublished at 13:29 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2018
Some coverage to look out for coming up later on today on the BBC.
Winter Olympics replay
13:30-16:15, Winter Olympics - Team Figure Skating (replay), BBC Red Button
16:15-18:10 Winter Olympics - Curling Mixed Doubles (replay), BBC Red Button
Opening ceremony highlights
19:00-20:00, BBC Two and online
On Saturday, 10 February...
00:00-06:00, BBC One and BBC Red Button and online.
What you may have missedpublished at 13:27 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2018
- The ceremony has lasted just over two hours, with Great Britain the 52nd nation to enter the stadium as 2014 skeleton gold medallist Lizzy Yarnold was holding the flag.
- A team featuring the Olympic Athletes from Russia, came in holding the Olympic flag, as Russia as a country is banned from competing, although its individual athletes are not.
- Tonga's Pita Taufatofua appeared in native costume, without a shirt on, despite the freezing cold temperatures - just as he had done in the 2016 summer Olympics in Rio.
- A united Korea team, featuring athletes from North and South Korea, entered the arena together, under a unified Korea flag.
- At the end of a stunning ceremony, 2010 figure skating gold medallist Yuna Kim lit the Olympic flame.
Image source, Getty Images
Ceremony verdictpublished at 13:20 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2018
Robin Cousins
Olympic gold medallist figure skater on BBC TV
I thought the precision of the whole performance and the delicacy in how everything was laid out was very classy. Nothing too frantic and some great dancing. I loved it.
get involved
Get Involvedpublished at 13:17 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2018
#bbcolympics
Grant: No matter how many times you see it, the lighting of the Olympic flame never gets boring!
Watch: Musicians perform a unique version of John Lennon's 'Imagine'published at 13:17 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2018
Postpublished at 13:15 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2018
The Olympic Flame is lit, so cue the fireworks, and a final display of colour and dance.
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Cousins delight at Yuna Kim rolepublished at 13:13 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2018
Robin Cousins
Olympic gold medallist figure skater on BBC TV
She is one of the most revered athletes this country has ever produced. She is so charming and so lovely.
She is a mega superstar and a perfect choice for this role.
Lighting the flamepublished at 13:09 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2018
The flame has now been passed to Yuna Kim, who won Olympic ice skating gold in 2010, she lights the flame and 30 fire rings rise towards the cauldron - and the Olympic flame is lit.
Emotional and pretty stunning.
Postpublished at 13:08 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2018
This is getting pretty spectacular now. The torchbearers are running on an icy and glistening slope, leading up to the top of the stadium.
Two torchbearers stand in front of the slope, then the slope turns into lighted stairs as the pair reach the top.
'A special ceremony'published at 13:08 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2018
Nick Hope
BBC Sport in Pyeongchang
The athletes of North and South Korea marching together sends a “powerful message of peace to the world,” says International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach.
The response from the crowd tonight to the united nations was really quite powerful.
I’ve been lucky to cover several Olympics over the years and this opening ceremony really has been quite special.
Postpublished at 13:04 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2018
The torch has entered the stadium and the torchbearers are Korean sports celebrities. The stadium is completely dark, but lit up by occasional flashing lights from the seats.
'Let everyone shine'published at 13:02 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2018
For the past 101 days, the Olympic Flame has travelled every corner of Korea and now we are seeing the best parts of that in a video of the highlights, with people of all ages having a chance to take part.
"Let everyone shine," is the rather catchy Eurovision-style soundtrack to the video.
Postpublished at 13:00 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2018
Now an athlete and coach takes the Olympic oath, on behalf of the athletes, officials and coaches, basically calling for fair play throughout. Let's hope so.
Postpublished at 12:58 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2018
Not long before the Olympic flame is lit. We are now having the Olympic anthem, sung by opera singer Hwang Su-mi, and the raising of the Olympic flag.
What's the situation with Russia?published at 12:57 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2018
Russia is banned from the Winter Olympics - yet 169 of their athletes are still being allowed to compete as neutrals.
So what was the point of the ban?
Team 'OAR' - Olympic Athletes from Russia - are the third biggest group at the Games in Pyeongchang - behind only Canada and the United States.
So what exactly will this 'Russian' team look like? How many medals will they win? And why can't they be proud Russians on social media?
Find out more here
Image source, Getty Images
Here are the Olympic ringspublished at 12:51 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2018
A total of 1,218 drones and 100 skiers are combining to form the Olympic Rings in spectacular style.
A hundred skiers have raced down the slope, while at the same time the lights of the drones forms the rings in the sky above the stadium.
It is quite a sight. Stunning.
'What a moment'published at 12:51 Greenwich Mean Time 9 February 2018
Caroline Chapman
BBC Sport in Pyeongchang
What an entrance by the unified Korean team earlier.
The whole stadium stood up to greet them, and they continued to wave their mini torches as the team made their way round.