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Russia tries to put controversy in past with grand opening ceremony

By
Associated Press
Published Feb. 7, 2014, 12:04 p.m. ET
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Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremony
One of Olympic rings fails to expand during the opening ceremony. AP
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Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremony
Russia’s Maria Sharapova waves to the crowd as she carries the torch during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia on Friday. There will be more events in this highly anticipated Winter Olympics than ever before in its history. AP
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APTOPIX Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremony
Irina Rodnina and Vladislav Tretyak light the Olympic cauldron. AP
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Opening Ceremony
epa04060423 Dancers perform during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games at the Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi, Russia, 07 February 2014. EPA/HOW HWEE YOUNG EPA
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Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremony
Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Friday, Feb. 7, 2014. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) AP
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2014 Winter Olympic Games – Opening Ceremony
SOCHI, RUSSIA – FEBRUARY 07: Dancers perform Dove of Peace during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Fisht Olympic Stadium on February 7, 2014 in Sochi,… Getty Images
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Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremony
Logos all sports are illuminated during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Friday, Feb. 7, 2014. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) AP
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Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremony
Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Friday, Feb. 7, 2014. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) AP
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A member of Austria’s delegation lies on the ground after falling AFP/Getty Images
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A general view shows the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics
A general view shows the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, February 7, 2014. REUTERS/Mark Blinch (RUSSIA – Tags: OLYMPICS SPORT TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) Reuters
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Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremony
The Olympic Cauldron is lit during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Friday, Feb. 7, 2014. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) AP
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APTOPIX Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremony
Fireworks are seen over the Olympic Park during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Friday, Feb. 7, 2014. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) AP
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2014 Winter Olympic Games – Opening Ceremony
SOCHI, RUSSIA – FEBRUARY 07: Firework at Rosa Khutor during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at the Rosa Khutor Mountain Cluster village on February 7, 2014… Getty Images
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2014 Winter Olympic Games – Opening Ceremony
SOCHI, RUSSIA – FEBRUARY 07: Fireworks explode while the Olympic flame is lit during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Fisht Olympic Stadium on February 7,… Getty Images
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APTOPIX Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremony
Fireworks explode behind the Olympic torch after it was lit at end of the opening ceremony for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Friday, Feb. 7, 2014. (AP Photo/Bernat… AP
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2014 Winter Olympic Games – Opening Ceremony
SOCHI, RUSSIA – FEBRUARY 07: A general view of the Olympic Park during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics on February 7, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo… Getty Images
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Sochi Olympics
Fireworks explode over Fisht Olympic Stadium at the end of the opening ceremony for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Friday, Feb. 7, 2014. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) AP
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Opening Ceremony
epa04060429 Dancers perform during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games at the Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi, Russia, 07 February 2014. EPA/HOW HWEE YOUNG EPA
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Dancers Vasiliev and Zakharova perform during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games
Dancers Ivan Vasiliev and Svetlana Zakharova perform during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games February 7, 2014. REUTERS/Brian Snyder (RUSSIA – Tags: SPORT OLYMPICS) Reuters
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2014 Winter Olympic Games - Opening Ceremony
SOCHI, RUSSIA – FEBRUARY 07: Athlete marshals light up to form a Russian flag during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Fisht Olympic Stadium on February… Getty Images
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Opening Ceremony
Athlete marshals with LED elements in their costumes create the colors of the Russian flag. EPA
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Opening Ceremony
epa04059947 Platforms illustrating the different landscapes of Russia float through the Fisht Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games at the Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi,… EPA
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Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremony
Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Friday, Feb. 7, 2014. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) AP
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Performers sing during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics at the Fisht Olympic Stadium on February 7, 2014 in Sochi. AFP PHOTO / YURI KADOBNOVYURI KADOBNOV/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images
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Performers sing as the Olympic rings are readied to be presented during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics at the Fisht Olympic Stadium on February 7, 2014 in… AFP/Getty Images
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USA team
Members of the US Olympic team AP
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2014 Winter Olympic Games – Opening Ceremony
SOCHI, RUSSIA – FEBRUARY 07: Dancers perform Time Forward!/Suprematic Ballet during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Fisht Olympic Stadium on February 7, 2014 in Sochi,…
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Performers raise the Russian national flag during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics
Performers raise the Russian national flag during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, February 7, 2014. REUTERS/Mark Blinch (RUSSIA – Tags: OLYMPICS SPORT) Reuters
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The national delegations parade during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics at the Fisht Olympic Stadium on February 7, 2014 in Sochi. AFP PHOTO / DAMIEN MEYERDAMIEN MEYER/AFP/Getty… AFP/Getty Images
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Opening Ceremony
epa04060024 General view of the stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games at the Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi, Russia, 07 February 2014. EPA/HOW HWEE YOUNG EPA
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fireworks over Fisht Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony
Fireworks explode over Fisht Olympic Stadium. Getty Images
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Fireworks are seen over the Olympic Park during the opening ceremony at the Adler district of Sochi
Fireworks explode over Fisht Olympic Stadium. Reuters
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Opening Ceremony
epaselect epa04059926 Fireworks go off over the Fisht Olympic Stadium at the start of the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games at the Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi, Russia,… EPA
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Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremony
The United States team arrives for the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Friday, Feb. 7, 2014. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev) AP
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2014 Winter Olympic Games – Opening Ceremony
SOCHI, RUSSIA – FEBRUARY 07: Nordic combined skier Todd Lodwick of the United States Olympic team carries his country’s flag during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics… Getty Images
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Great Britain
Members of Great Britain’s Olympic delegation Getty Images
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Opening Ceremony
Members of Poland’s Olympic team EPA
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Athletes watch the opening ceremony
Athletes watch the opening ceremony AP
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Dancers perform with inflated objects during the opening ceremony.
SOCHI, RUSSIA – FEBRUARY 07: Dancers perform with inflated objects during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Fisht Olympic Stadium on February 7, 2014 in Sochi,… Getty Images
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The mascots of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics during opening ceremony
The 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics mascots Reuters
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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, February 7, 2014. REUTERS/Mark Blinch (RUSSIA – Tags: OLYMPICS SPORT) Reuters
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2014 Winter Olympic Games – Opening Ceremony
SOCHI, RUSSIA – FEBRUARY 07: A general view of atmosphere during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Fisht Olympic Stadium on February 7, 2014 in Sochi,…
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2014 Winter Olympic Games – Opening Ceremony
SOCHI, RUSSIA – FEBRUARY 07: Snowflakes transform into four Olympic rings with one failing to form during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Fisht Olympic Stadium… Getty Images
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Opening Ceremony
The lights that were all supposed to turn into Olympic rings EPA
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2014 Winter Olympic Games – Opening Ceremony
SOCHI, RUSSIA – FEBRUARY 07: Snowflakes transform into Olympic rings during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Fisht Olympic Stadium on February 7, 2014 in Sochi,… Getty Images
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2014 Winter Olympic Games – Opening Ceremony
Liza Temnikova as Lyubov performs during the opening ceremony. EPA