Opening Ceremony Winter Olympics

What is this thing that enthralls

us? A frozen world, but full of

life, massive forces at play.

Creativity, passion and delight.

This is where sport, science and

humanity collide. And the result is

truly spectacular. There is the

battle with gravity, those who wish

to harness its pull, the search for

aerodynamic and technical

superiority, with speed the ultimate

motivation. And those for whom

gravity is the enemy. Safely down!

Where the demand for spatial

awareness and extra sensory

perception is culpable - and

beautiful. Wet ice is the

battlefield, but competition is

human. The energy is intense, it is

combustible, unpredictable and

utterly enthralling.

utterly enthralling. This is a

marriage of old and new, tradition

and modernism, where memories of

what has gone before shape what is

to come. Sport, science and humanity

collide. But this is a celebration

of all three.

of all three. Welcome to the Winter

Olympics.

Professor Brian Cox setting the

scene for us with the formula for

success, and it is more than being

faster, higher or stronger - uni

bravery, precision, flicks ability,

and the ability to fly hopes! You

also need the old slice of luck!

This is Pyeongchang in South Korea,

home of the 23rd Winter Olympics,

and it promises to be both the most

spectacular and the coldest ever.

This morning the curtain rises on

the latest episode of the greatest

show on earth. Over the next 17

days, the BBC will slide, skate and

slalom across all our platforms as

we bring you all the wonderful

events on snow and ice. And this is

where we are going to be based

through the weeks ahead on BBC One

and BBC Two. We have got a bit of a

curling rink here, we've got teddy

bears all over the place! Fabulous

space! And I just love the delight

of the Winter Olympics, all of the

different sports, 15 different

sports, 102 medal events, more than

3000 competitors, it's going to be

sensational. And lots of questions I

know you will have about the sports

and the athletes, and you can get in

touch with us. They're nine hours

ahead in Korea and the Opening

Ceremony is due to start at 8pm

there time. And I have a panel of

wonderful experts with me, Chemmy

Alcott, four times Olympian, John

Ely, Short track speed skater, who

carried the flag four years ago in

Sochi. And Amy Williams, who was our

skeleton champion in Vancouver, and

known as the Queen of speed. I

wanted to ask you all, what do you

think South Korea is going to be

like as a venue for Alpine events?

I

have never been there, which is

really exciting for me as a fan now,

having retired. It is very unique

because there is only the one track

downhill, so the men start on the

track and the women take over. For

the men they want to make it really

tough with really big jumps and

brutal speeds. The women are going

to have to contend with that

afterwards, there is only so much

you can do in a few days to get it

ready for them, so a I can't wait!

John, for Short track speed skating

you couldn't get a bit of a new,

could you?

No, it is guide to be a

real buzz in the arena, the crowd

are really knowledgeable, it is one

of their number one sports over

there. It is going to be such a

fantastic experience for our guys.

Amy, what about the sliding track?

Well, it is brand-new, it has been

built just for these Games, the

athletes have had just a World Cup

last year and three weeks of

training. It will be who can get up

there and remember their notes from

the previous year and who can learn

the corners in the quickest time. It

is a very challenging track with

some steep uphills, some wonky lines

of! Very technical! It is going to

be interesting to see who can

perform.

So much to look forward to,

and so much excitement ahead.

and so much excitement ahead. Elise

Christie is Britain's brightest hope

of a gold-medal, and she has got

unfinished business after the

despair of disco litigation in

Sochi. - Yarnold carries the flag

for the biggest winter GB team ever

assembled. We will discuss medal

chances and the biggest names of the

Games. And Matthew Pinsent takes the

temperature in Korea in every

aspect, looking at Russia, doping

and the relationship between the

South and the north. It's going to

make headlines one way or another,

isn't it? Let's start our education

with a little bit of geography. If

you take off from London it takes

you about 11 hours to fly to Seoul,

going over Russia and Mongolia and

China. The population is 51 million

and Pyeongchang is east of Seoul, it

is not a city all resort, it is a

region with about 40,000 people

living there, popular in the summer

for golf and walking and skiing in

the winter. It is only about 50

miles from the border with North

Korea. Back in 1958 Seoul hosted the

Summer Games and it began with a

memorable Opening Ceremony and among

the stars for Team GB where Andy

Holmes and Steve Redgrave is double

breaststroke swimmer Adrian

Moorhouse, who won gold, shooter

Malcolm Cooper and the men's hockey

team with Sean Curley, they won gold

as well. And most famously, or

infamously, Ben Johnson's disco

litigation in the men's 100 metres.

They've spent about $13 billion on

these Games, which is cheap compared

to Sochi - Russia spent 50 billion

on that! The Opening Ceremony is

only about half an hour away. Inside

the Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium will

be doled medal winning figure

skating champion from 1980 Robin

Cousins and our master of

ceremonies, John Hunt. Yes, welcome

to the Olympic Stadium, it is

getting quite chilly here. I am

delighted to be with you tonight,

Robin Cousins - what other

components of a really good

ceremony?

Grandi, Pomp and

circumstance, and for me the most

important thing is that all the

colour comes together when the

athletes get their team gear on and

get to stand out there as united

Olympians and think about what

they're going to do over the next

two weeks!

And we are willing the

great British team on.

Of course!

How are they feeling?

I think they

are all ready to go, but there is

nothing like it when you get to put

the gear on for the first time and

you realise that you are part of a

united team, no matter what sport

you're doing, getting out here. I

think everyone is in great spirit,

so far everything has been organised

brilliantly, so let's hope that

everybody, especially the Brits,

have a great Games!

Have you got

your long johns on?

your long johns on?

I do, yes!

And

stand-by as well for an old

favourite to sing along to later

run! Do you think that means Gangnam

Style?! It has got to be, hasn't

it?! It is a horsey song, it is all

about horses! It's going to be cult,

and obviously, most Winter Olympics

are cold, I think we got spoiled in

Sochi with it being sunbathing

temperatures did all they have got

heated seats in the stadium - how

much of an issue is it for athletes,

did you go to opening ceremonies?

I

went to four Olympics and I only

went to the one Opening Ceremony. I

decided that psychologically, it

being my last Games, I needed to go,

I needed to feel part of it, it was

bigger than me as an individual

sport, I wanted to feel that five,

but semi times the athletes don't

go. What you don't see is that

behind-the-scenes, you're standing

there for hours like sardines. It's

not very glamorous. And it is

extremely cold which is not

fantastic for the event.

And John,

you had the honour four years ago

and you were voted for by your

team-mates?

Yes, that is a special

part of it, getting to lead your

team-mates out is such an honour and

something - Yarnold said yesterday,

it's not expect it and it's not

something you dream about so when it

comes along it's really special.

And

Amy Williams, you have done it at a

closing ceremony?

Yes, Vancouver,

having won my gold, they wanted me

to do it. When you walk into that

Opening Ceremony, that is the moment

that it hits you - I am an Olympian.

You've watched it on to TV semi

times and there you are behind the

flag and the emotional hits you.

It's just phenomenal. But if it is

going to affect your performance, or

your competition is really close,

then you won't go and stand for

hours and watch it - you have to

make that choice.

And the

performance which earned you the

right to be carrying that flag, this

was you in Vancouver. You were

talking about how the athletes will

have to learn the track and get to

know its personality?

Yes, so, the

athletes only will have trained for

three days and they have got to

learn 16 Corners. And the track here

is brand-new so they don't know it

very well, they will have their

track notes from the previous year.

I spoke to the coach this morning,

and asked him about the track, and

it is very unique. The top four

faunas are already at 100km/h, so

the drop and the gradient is really

steep. -- the top four corners. They

have that amazing push at the start,

which our girls and guys are

phenomenal at. And then perfecting

the corners in the middle section,

exiting the straight properly, and

then it drops again into corner 15

but the last corner is a really

steep incline. If you make a mistake

there you could lose a lot of vital

time.

There has been a lot of

investment into skeleton as a sport,

and rewarded with Alex Cooper, with

you and - Yarnold following your

tracks.

Four years ago she was so

dominant in all four runs, wasn't

she? Yes, and I think

she? Yes, and I think for -, she

really loves the competition. She

really wants to drive to get another

medal, she wants to be the first

Briton to get the two medals. She

hasn't quite had the season she

hoped for, but sometimes you have to

play around with equipment,

sometimes you might have just lost

it a bit in the head. But she's

strong, she's ready, her and Laura

are both out there, they both have

phenomenal starts and a great team

and we know how to win in skeleton,

we know the formula and we can

produce.

And she is a great big day

performer and she has real presence,

she looks like a champion when she

walks in the room, and she will look

like a champion tonight as she

carries the flag. She's been talking

about the honour of being selected,

with Matthew Pinsent.

So, you've been chosen as flag

bearer - what kind of honour is

that?

It is an honour that I had

never really thought about but it

means so much as in the flag

represents the whole team, and we as

a team represent everyone in Great

Britain who have watched us, who

have supported us, you know, for our

parents to watch us on the TV

screen, our grandparents watching at

home, that is THE moment, your skin

tingles and the emotion begins.

Did

you fly here thinking it was a

possibility that you could be flag

bearer?

I don't think I did think

about it too much because I knew

that I wanted to go to the Opening

Ceremony regardless of whether I was

the flag bearer or not, I wanted to

be part of the team. We don't get

here by ourselves and to march with

the others, it is a really fantastic

moment.

It's going to be amazing. I

think it will make her quite

emotional as well. Can't wait for

the Opening Ceremony, but, of

course, the build-up to these Games

has not just been about the athletes

training hard, Katie Ormerod having

her injury, which we will talk about

in a moment, it has also been about

doping and about Russia, were they

in or out, and it has been about

tensions between South Korea and

North Korea - it is the most heavily

patrolled border in the world. And

taking on those issues, you need a

man who can deal with anything, so

here's Matthew again!

Every edition of the Olympic Games

is going to have its challenges, but

it seems as if Pyeongchang is taking

it to a whole new level.

And let's be honest, relations with

North Korea has been appalling.

North Korea said they would send a

delegation to the Winter games to

compete. Are we on the eve of some

Korean goodwill?

I have been doing

Korea for 30 years and I cannot

recall a situation that was so

danger is in the last if.

The

tension between South and North is

becoming more sophisticated and a

little bit dangers, especially for

our side of the Korean peninsulas.

All this reconciliation is not going

to last long, because the United

States would be deadly opposing, any

kind of economic interaction between

two Koreas.

The Korean citizens has

the same history we are one unity,

one people, one Nation. We are

rooting for both

rooting for both teams, Korea and

North.

Questions in the rest of the

world, including in Britain remain,

about attending The Games at all.

You have got to remember it is the

athletes, they don't choose where

The Games goes, it is the pinnacle

of their career and they want to be

here so it is up to us to make sure

we are here as long as we can

guarantee their safety.

Another

problem the Olympic authorities are

having to deal with is that of

Russia and their doping. This

started at the last Winter Olympics

in Sochi in 2014, but recently, it

has come to ahead.

Russia has been

banned from competing at next year's

Winter Olympics in South Korea.

It

follows allegations state-sponsored

doping. The arbitration for sport

has upheld appeals from 28 of those

banned Russian athletes, which

leaves a lot of questions. The only

person who can Ansah them is is the

president of the IOC, Thomas backed.

Do you have any regrets about the

intervening four years and the way

the IOC has handled this?

No, we

issued the toughest sanction which

we can issue on an national Olympic

Committee. This is the exclusion

from the Olympic Games.

But the IOC

did clear 169 athletes, who they

judged to be drug-free, they compete

under an Olympic flag with neutral

kit and the national anthem if they

win.

We gave a new and young

generation of Russian athletes the

opportunity to be invited, to show

the Russians that it pays off to be

clean.

In one final chapter to the

Russians trying to get to

Pyeongchang, a further 32 athletes

this week challenge their bands. But

hours ahead of the opening ceremony,

they were dismissed, stating the IOC

were within their rights to block

them from competing. No one is naive

enough to think Winter Olympics is

going to solve all the world's

sporting or political problems, but

with world-class events about to

begin, hopefully we can all take a

17 day break from them.

I think that would be the wish. And

the Olympic athletes from Russia is

the fourth biggest team competing.

USA being the biggest team, 241.

Canada, 226. Switzerland, then OAR

and

and then Germany, Japan, South

Africa and then Great Britain. We

have lost Katie Ormerod, who one

would have hoped would have been a

chance for a medal?

This is the

nature of winter sport, everything

they do is on the limit. There is a

fine line between ultimate success

and disaster. She is out there

training, she has got to feel the

speed of it but she judged it wrong

and you see the consequences of it.

My heart goes out for her because

the most brutal timing.

Fractured

heel and she was operated on this

morning. She put a photo up of the

two pins that have gone in. Let's

have a look at what she has showed.

The poor thing, it is just desperate

timing. She is looking cheery and I

know winter athletes...

She is young

and she will be back. Let's focus on

the positive, if there is one.

Look

at those screws, they are big. So no

Katie Ormerod, let's take a look at

some of the British athletes we hope

can bring medals home with them.

Weeks, months and years spent on ice

just to disappear in a blur or an

error. Elise Christie disqualified

over all three speed essences in

Sochi brought her close to quitting,

but now a world record holder in

them all. Drama doesn't always

unfold a high speed. The slow story

of curling glory grip is in 2002.

Good Rhona Martin and team be

followed by Eve Muirhead who were

third last year? Upon the mountain,

where an eagle once dead, nobody

could jump like Eddie. But David

Riding learned his craft in

Lancashire and won a silver medal on

the World Cup circuit last year.

Andrew Musgrave made the spring

quarter final, but skis, in his own

words, like a tranquillised Badger.

He is a more competitive

cross-country animal this time.

James Woods and Katie Summerhayes

have one medal since Sochi. So

success is expected from the style

icons. Rocky times in British

Bobsled, a sport used to bumps, but

an outside medal from the four-man

crews. Who can forget Lizzy Yarnold,

four years on from her gold medal in

Sochi, this time, head team-mate,

Laura Deas has become faster. Lizzie

has spent time away from the sport

for reasons of choice and health, it

has been a roller-coaster but this

is her favourite part of the ride.

I have brought loads of teddy bears

back and that is what I have

contributed. Elise Christie, we need

to talk about the woman he was one

of the big headlines from Sochi

because of what didn't happen and

what could happen this time,

disqualified in three races four

years ago?

It was really tough for

her and see it play out as a

team-mate, I was trying to focus on

my performance, but you could see

the motion she was going through. It

was hard and I can understand how

she has had to come back from that.

Seeing it unfolds and the guys

around her at the time, it was

difficult for the team. She has had

some ups and downs, but most

importantly she is going there as a

world champion.

Three World

Championship gold medals and one of

them was the overall title. I saw

her last week and she told me, it

was redemption. In her head she is

saying no pressure, I have done it,

I have proved myself the best in the

world. Winter Olympics, she says she

is doing for the fans, friends and

family.

I can see that, she has the

love back for the sport. She said

she found it difficult for the next

12 months after Sochi. But now she

is enjoying herself. Some of the

clips before, she talks about

chatting to competitors and she is

excited about these games and

integrate plays. I cannot wait.

I so

want her to get something and the

trouble is, Short Track Speed

Skating is really random. This is

her timetable. Saturday, tomorrow,

she has 500 metres and then the

quarterfinals, semifinals and the

final, we hope, on Tuesday. That

will be on our morning show.

final, we hope, on Tuesday. That

will be on our morning show.

will be on our morning show. Then

she switches to the 1500 metres. And

then the 1000 metres, is her

favourite, you would think? That'll

be the last one?

She would say the

500 metres because it is shorter and

over and done with quickly, but the

1000 metres, she will be up for that

one.

She talks about learning to

embrace failure. After she got

disqualified from Sochi, she played

safe in the World Cup and

Championships after that, just get a

medal, don't fall over. Now she goes

to the edge again.

You can see that

in the way she talks in training,

she is going to the game is looking

to win. If you can win three gold

medals, that is what she is going

for. It will be amazing, history

made. But she is going to compete

and win and she has great

competitors from Korea, China and

Canada. She wants to push them.

It's

like Lindsey Vonn said, she does all

or

like Lindsey Vonn said, she does all

or nothing?

These iconic sports

stars, a silver is almost failing.

You cannot come back from the

Olympics and be dissatisfied with

the performance if you have

competed. If you have gone and

charged and gone for the gold and

crushed out, it is so much better.

Speaking Team Lindsey, she exudes, I

am going to go and win or I will

crash. She has to find the boundary

of her limit and she will go towards

it.

Let's look at the areas Team GB

are hoping to succeed and whether

funding has gone. This is the best

funded

funding has gone. This is the best

funded British Winter Olympic team.

The target in curling, you can only

get a maximum of two medals. We just

missed qualification for the mixed

event. Snowboarding, two, three

medals. Skeleton, top eight or one

medal?

They are going after not

quite desired performance of Lizzy

Yarnold last year. But they are in

the top seven positions.

That is the

best funded sport and a lot of money

going into the technology behind it.

Bobsled, and we hope will get a gold

medal after the disqualification of

two of the Russian teens. And Short

Track, we would think they would

come from Elise and Figure Skating.

We also have two new members from

BBC team and that is Jenny Jones

We also have two new members from

BBC team and that is Jenny Jones and

Radzi Chinyanganya. Claire, thank

you very much indeed. We might not

be able to feel our cheeks, but the

opening ceremony is just around the

corner. I am joined by Jenny Jones.

Katie Ormerod, gutting?

I am

devastated for her. She did her

wrist and then her foot. She is 20

years old, still a youngster. It is

extreme sport and these things

always happen.

So in Beijing, she

could be back?

Absolutely.

Four

years ago, it was your magical

moment?

This was the day I put the

medal around my neck and it was a

proud moment. It is good to watch

the other athletes compete.

Now you

are back as a pundit, how is that?

Definitely less stress, but great to

cheer them on.

Coming up as the

opening ceremony, the lights and the

stadium but glorious, you were

inside waving the Team GB flag, what

was it like?

Walking through those

doors initially, then it opens up to

a huge and magnificent stadium.

Proud moment. We are very excited

here, just a case of getting inside.

I think you will have to dance right

through to keep yourselves warned.

Beautifully lit up, I think that is

the sliding track on the top left

with the lights.

Ski Jumping.

You

can see the Ski Jumping definitely.

This is the buzz. I know none of you

are competing this time but do you

still get excited?

All the time,

once an athlete, you are always an

athlete. When I fly out there and

Monday I am going to go to the

track. Something inside of me will

want me to grab somebody sled. I get

so emotional when I watched

different sports, when I watch my

sport, there is something of you

still there.

You almost hope when

you retire you can suppress the

addiction to Adrenaline, but you

can't. Amy and I have become

mothers, but it is still there.

We

are going to feel the excitement as

we build up to The Games starting

with the opening ceremony. We will

hand you over to South Korea and

Robin Cousins with John Hunt.

A very warm welcome to the Olympic

Stadium, Pyeongchang. We are almost

set to go, Robin Cousins watching

alongside me. I know it is cold

outside and security queues are long

getting in, I would have thought the

stadium would have been packed by

now, but it is not?

There are a few

empty seats. There is an empty

chunk, which we presume are reserved

for the athletes when they come in.

It has filled in the last 15, 20

minutes quite dramatically. It is

going to be very cold out there, but

we have been told the seats are

heated.

It wasn't a particularly

cold day, it was only just in minus

territory. When we arrived last week

it was minus 20. They said it might

get warmer?

Supposedly, we will see.

We don't want the ice to melt.

Claire was right, that was the ice

Centre and the sliding track. So

much to look forward to as the light

strop and we take you on a journey.

Time travel, very much one of the

themes tonight and you will see all

the Winter games depicted on this

bit of tape, ending with Pyeongchang

and those of you with eagle eyes

will no

will no doubt spot Unichem holding

the poster.

We took about the

content of the show and how it is

taking place. The stadium was built

specifically for these games. It

combines a combination of different

geometric shapes which represents

heaven, earth and mankind,

respectively. Immers presents

harmony and convergence which is the

founding ideals of traditional

Korean values.

Some important

landmarks. People wait with great

anticipation for the opening of the

Winter games 2018.

Silence across the stadium,

darkness, and here we go, the

countdown, then, upon us. This is

the Bell of Peace, the bell of the

Sangwon Temple, and according to

legend the sound of this bell

brought peace.

COUNTDOWN

BELL SOUNDS

The stage turns completely to ice.

There's those shots again, the

vented in shape, the Olympic rings

let up, with the Sliding Center in

the background. Fireworks already

away.

away. 35,000 expect to do the in

here.

We were walking over the

bridges to come to the venue, and

the firework blocks were frozen into

the river.

the river.

So, as I say, a journey,

five children we will see throughout

the night tonight, travelling from

the past to future, as they learn

about the history and culture of

their land and find answers to the

question of peace, following their

journey as they discover peace.

A

place where nature and people live

in harmony.

ROBIN COUSINS: Each child

representing one of the five

elements, fire,

elements, fire, water, wood and

Earth, which are believed to make up

the universe.

JOHN HUNT: Images of 22 Korean

treasures.

The sundial. The guilt bronze

incense burner. And children filled

with wonderment.

The Four Guardians coming to life,

we will see them on the stage

shortly. All symbolic of the ancient

Koreans' hope for par. That White

Tiger will lead the children, now,

in front of the thousands here in

the stadium, on the first leg of

their journey. I can tell you a

little bit about the children here.

As you say, Robin, they represent

the various elements.

And the

colours of the five children's

costumes also symbolise the

elements, fire, water, wood, metal

and Earth.

and Earth.

Puri in blue and Nuri in

yellow...

Also representing and

symbolising the five colours of the

Olympic Rings.

The tiger makes its

way to the centre of the stage.

way to the centre of the stage. They

transform into the mountain range

which begins at Mount Baekdu, the

very backbone of the region.

The White Tiger and the children to

be joined now by a vast array of

wonderful animals and plants, of

land and water. Wild bore, deer,

flowers, butterflies.

And now, week get our first look at

a character from the creation myth,

and according to the myth she was a

bear but after praying for 100 days

she became a woman and gave birth to

a son, the founder of the Korean

nation.

nation. Her name is Ung-nyeo. Two

additional characters join the

stage, the Phoenix and the curious

half man, half bird. The Phoenix, a

mythical animal. A bird that lives

1000 years and flies between heaven

and earth. The Koreans believe that

the Phoenix would appear only during

peaceful times have.

The image for you at home pretty

spectacular, and it would be fair to

say less so in the stadium, we can't

appreciate the effect.

And time for some formal

introductions. Firstly, the

president, Moon Jae-in. Moon Jae-in

was sworn in following his victory

in 2017, the election, to replace

the country's first female

president, who was impeached at the

time, the less said about that, the

better, I suppose. And with

President Moon Jae-in, Thomas Bach,

the president of the IOC.

the president of the IOC. The

children look pleased to see him!

And of course we will hear from both

of them later on.

of them later on. President Moon

Jae-in, actually the son of North

Korean refugees. He took office at a

time of great tensions bridged to an

extent still persist today. Despite

the theme of unification between

north and south to Robin?

Well,

certainly the audience here are

crying at the fact that unification

is happening in this stadium

tonight, with this ceremony.

tonight, with this ceremony. And a

longer-term truce is expected and

hoped for, but certainly the crowd

here feel very honoured and blessed

that these two great countries are

coming together.

coming together.

And the athletes of

north and south will be parading

together in the Parade Of Athletes,

which will begin fairly shortly.

More lovely

More lovely shots and great

anticipation of great competition

over the next two weeks.

The stage is being read set, and

from what I can see from here, it is

going to be worth the wait!

I think

after a gentle start, Robin, I think

it is fair to say that things get a

little bit more lively now, as we

move to a stage of the evening

called the Light From The Beginning.

And we will hear the sound of

janggo. Many of you will remember

the use of drums from the Beijing

Games in 2008. So, the janggo drums

appear centrestage. The drummers

express the life force and the

balance between the two opposing

forces... Spectators tonight were

given a little drum to justice

participate in this part of the

evening. The janggo is a traditional

drum and the left and right side of

the drum are covered with different

leathers to produce different

sounds.

RYTHMIC DRUMBEAT

that is always going to be popular.

The transformation between blue and

red, the Ying and Yang.

The South Korean flag.

Ladies and gentlemen, the national

flag of the Republic of Korea.

The flag will now be paraded.

Carried by eight very popular

sporting Korean figures. Some very

young.

Jin Sun-yu, a three-time gold

medallist from 2006.

Pak Se-ri, the golfer. Still a

symbol of hope to many Koreans. He

is the Korean coach to the golf

team. Officiated in that role in Rio

games.

games. Lee Seung-ye, baseball. 41

years of age, legend in baseball.

Hwang Young-jo, from the sport of

marathon running. Doesn't look like

he has done it for a while.

Barcelona medallist.

Also, the first female Olympic

medallist in golf.

Lim O-kyeon, Gold medallist in

Athens, getting a great reception.

And Ha Hyeong-ju, from the world of

judo. He was the gold medallist in

Los Angeles in 1984.

The costumes they are wearing are

based on the traditional Korean

winter attire. Very effective, don't

you think?

They look absolutely

wonderful.

wonderful.

Handing over now to The

Traditional Guard of Honour. They

were created following the tradition

of royal bodyguards who protected

and escorted the King. A function,

ordinarily conducted at state

ceremonies.

TRANSLATION: Ladies and gentlemen,

please stand for the national anthem

of the Republic of Korea,

performed by the Rainbow

Children's Choir.

The rain bow choir was founded in

2009 with 75 children from

multicultural families. They will

now saying the national anthem to

send out a message of harmony

through their music.

# Donghae mulgwa baegdusan-i maleugo

dalhdolog

# haneunim-i bouhasa ulinala manse

mugunghwa samcheonli hwalyeogangsan

# daehansalam daehan-eulo gil-i

bojeonhase

# namsan wie jeo sonamu cheolgab-eul

duleun deus

# balamseoli bulbyeonham-eun uli

gisang-ilse

The early part of this ceremony. Now

the centrepiece, for much of the

next hour the parade of athletes.

TRANSLATION: Ladies and gentlemen,

please welcome the athletes

of the Pyeongchang 2018

Olympic Winter Games!

Nearly 2.5 billion people worldwide

expected to watch The Games.

Traditionally, Greece begin the

parade, home of the Olympic

movement. They always had the parade

and they are represented by four

athletes, two Alpine Skiing is an

two Cross-Country Skiing is.

Officials of course, war with the

athletes as well.

This is quite a character from

Ghana.

Ghana. He has been waiting for this

moment for so long. He went to the

Netherlands as a youngster and his

wish was to, in track and field,

become an athlete the Netherlands.

He is making them best of his moment

in the limelight.

in the limelight. Nigeria, their

flag

flag bearer is from the sports of

bobsleigh. Of course, that is the

big headline here. It will be the

first African bobsleigh team to

appear at a Winter Olympics.

Zapata, they appeared in the 1960

Winter Olympics, but didn't return

until the end of apartheid in 1994.

-- South Africa.

He is studying in the United States

of America. He finished 54th in the

giant slalom in last year's

championships. The Netherlands,

Sochi sold them win their best ever

tally. One of those medals came in

long track speed skating. A tally of

23 medals, including eight of the 12

gold medals on offer. They have 105

gold medals in long track Speed

Skating.

Skating. Here come Norway. The most

prolific of all the Winter Olympic

nations, they have won more medals

than any other. 329. Their flag

bearer is a four-time gold

medallist.

The King of Biathlon was hoping to

qualify for Pyeongchang aged 44, but

he failed the selection.

New Zealand, at the 2006 Olympics,

their tally of medals ranked them

third in the world behind Granada

and the Bahamas. New Zealand came

agonisingly close to a second ever

Olympic medal in such you with Josie

Wells finishing fourth. He is one of

four brothers.

four brothers. They were all hoping

to represent their country here, but

only three of them. Denmark have

only ever won one Winter Olympic

medal in history. Full marks if you

remember the women's curling team

from 1998.

Yet there summer Olympics tally is

193. Germany, 154 in strength, they

sit third on the all-time Winter

Olympic leaders medal. Watch of

course for the sliders.

course for the sliders. Luge starts

tomorrow.

tomorrow. Their flag bearer has won

the last five overall World Cup

titles.

There were nearly 100,000

applications to volunteer at these

Olympics are. One

Olympics are. One athlete here, A5

our flight from Sydney, to the

north-west of Australia. And this is

their Alpine skier carrying the flag

for them, once again, their only

representative. He has great tales

to tell when he appeared in Sochi

and more importantly when he

returned home, treated like a king,

he said! Government ministers

falling over themselves to greet

him, and Miss Timor as well took an

interest! Latvia next, a strong

nation, a team of 34. Enjoyed their

best ever Winter Olympics in Sochi

four years ago, getting four medals.

Their skeleton star was the standout

name, but he was beaten by a

Canadian in Sochi.

Lebanon next, their flag bearer is a

cross-country skier.

cross-country skier. Lebanon's

representation has almost

exclusively come in Alpine skiing.

And two of their three strong team

in Korea are Alpine skiers.

Next, the largest of the bulk in

countries, Romania. 50 years ago in

Grenoble, Romania, despite appearing

at all but two Winter Olympics, won

their solitary medal and it came in

the two-man bob. They have not got

anywhere near the podium since.

anywhere near the podium since. So

many youngsters carrying the flag,

and Luxembourg is a case in point,

this is an 18-year-old Alpine

this is an 18-year-old Alpine skier,

Matthieu Osch.

Lithuania next, the largest and most

southerly of the three Baltic

republics, it was the first Republic

to break away from the Soviet Union

in March 1990 and their national

sport is basket all. They won bronze

medals in that sport on three

occasions. When you have yet to win

a Winter Olympic medal, although

they did win four the Summer

Olympics in Rio.

Olympics in Rio. Lichtenstein, and

their Alpine skier looks a good bet

to banish her Winter Olympic demons

with a debut medal here in South

Korea. She has missed the last two

Games through injury, the second of

which came during a training run at

the Sochi Olympics but she did win

Super-G silver in the championships

in summer rates are. Her parents

have a CV which includes eight World

Cup crystal globes, 39 World Cup

wins, five World Championship titles

and two Olympic golds. No pressure

there, then, to! Madagascar, one of

several countries represented by

just one athlete. And this is their

Alpine skier. She will be their

first ever Winter Olympic athlete,

and only their second winter

Olympian ever.

ROBIN COUSINS: Malaysia next, and it

is their figure skater who is

carrying the flag, and this is their

Winter Olympics debut in

Pyeongchang. As a 12-year-old boy,

he was sent to a figure skating camp

right here in Pyeongchang. Is older

brother is also a figure skater and

his mother became president of the

figure Skating Association to make

sure that her children could train

properly, and I saw her face when he

qualified last summer at Games, and

it was a picture!

Nice story as well

about Mexico, the Alpine skier has

an interesting story to tell. She

competed for the United States at

four Winter Olympics with a best

finish of tenth in the slalom in

Turin in 2006. Now she is 38 and out

of retirement, this time

representing the homeland of her

husband. Monaco, well, the Prince of

Monaco represented his country in

the bobsleigh in five Winter

Olympics dreamed 9088 and 2002, his

best finish was 25th and that was in

the two-man event. His last

appearance, insult like city, came

just three years before he succeeded

his father to become Monaco's

reigning monarch. Morocco and their

team includes the first Alpine skier

representing an African nation to

win gold at the Winter youth Olympic

Games. He did that by claiming

victory at the Super-G in 2012 in

Innsbruck. He was born to a Moroccan

father and a Canadian mother and has

dual citizenship in both countries.

Montenegro. Entering the stage now,

as Gangnam Style Blair is out. We

know that would crop up somewhere

along the line, Robin!

It had to

come!

come! -- blares out.

More than 3

million people on Youtube have

watched and enjoyed Gangnam Style.

So, Montenegro through and next,

Moldova. Their cross-country skier,

who has competed in both biathlon

and cross-country skiing, the flag

bearer, Nicolae Gaiduc. He is

unlikely to deliver a medal in the

next two weeks! Similarly, Malta,

with one representative, their

Alpine skier, carrying the flag.

Malta's only Winter Olympics, who

made her debut four years ago and

she competes in this love them --

competes in the slalom and the giant

slalom. Mongolia next. Despite

appearing in 13 Winter Olympics they

are yet to win a medal. They have

won 26 in the Summer Games,

including two in Rio in 2016.

Mongolia has a population of 3

million,which is in stark contrast

to the next team to enter the stage

- 326 million, the latest population

of the United States of America.

Their flag

Their flag bearer is a luger, the

forth from that sport to have the

honour. She is getting married this

year as well. Snowboarder Shaun

White will attempt to win a third

halfpipe title, and he is in form,

having been awarded only the second

ever perfect score in competition

last month. Chloe came is the

women's snowboarding's answer to

Shaun White. Despite being aged just

17 she is sure to get a fantastic

reception given that both of her

parents come from Korea. Lindsey

Vonn is back, having missed Sochi

through injury. She warmed up for

Pyeongchang with three consecutive

World Cup victories, the last of

which came in early February in

Germany. And in Michaela Shifrin,

they have an incredible talent who

four years ago in Sochi became the

youngest ever female slalom Olympic

champion and is being tipped to win

a host of medals in Pyeongchang.

Their previous best medal haul came

in 2010. Here is Bermuda, one

athlete.

athlete. And this is Tucker Murphy.

He went to Oxford University. He did

a Masters degree in zoology there.

Quite an outfit as well, Robin!

Brave in this weather, I have to

say! But what else would you expect

from a man from Bermuda, wearing

shorts!

Belgium next, other team has

tripled in size from four years ago

and they're laid out by the reigning

snowboarding slopestyle world

champion Seppe Smits.

champion Seppe Smits. Belarus,

they've only ever won six old

medals, five of them in Sochi, four

years ago. An improving nation,

perhaps. Led out by the biathlete

who is the standout name in their

team. Also keep an eye out for the

Belarussian delegation for Ole Einar

Bjorndalen, the Norwegian, the most

decorated winter Olympic athlete of

all time who was not selected for

Norway who will coach his wife and

the other Belarussian athletes.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, the flag

bearer is an 18-year-old Alpine

skier, Elvedina Muzaferija.

Bolivia's flag bearer, 30 years on

from Eddie The Eagle

from Eddie The Eagle Edwards, is

Simon Breitfuss Kammerlande, and

like Eddie, he lives in a motorhome

a lot of the time as he is driven

around to complete.

Bulgaria, they have been hogging the

ski cross headlines

ski cross headlines this season

through their rock and roll

competitor.

Now, Brazil, who had to their first

Games since they hosted Rio a couple

of years ago. Cross-country skier

Victors Santos, who hails from the

favelas of Sao Paulo.

San Marino next.

Serbia's flag bearer is their Alpine

skier, who is competing in her third

Winter Olympics, Nevena Ighjatovic.

Four years ago she finished 28th in

the giant slalom.

Sweden next. Stockholm was an

original bidder for the 2022 Winter

Olympics, but later pulled out of

the race.

Charlotte Kerwood overhaul and UPS

and as Sweden's most successful

Winter Olympics of the flag bearer

is from the men's curling team.

Switzerland, and their flag bearer

is three-time Olympian and gold

medallist Dario, cross-country

skier. Watch out, though, over the

next

next fortnight for "Ipod", who upset

the great Shaun White in Sochi. He

will be hoping to recover and bounce

back from a crash in the X games to

take the title in South Korea.

Here comes Spain. They caused a

major upset in the men's slalom in

1982. Their only other Winter

Olympic medal was 20 years later in

the slalom, a bronze. But the person

they will be looking for this time

is Javier Hernandez who finished

fourth in Sochi. They will be

looking to get on the podium in

Pyeongchang, and he said it will be

his last performance. Spain,

followed by Slovakia.

Their flag bearer has just come back

from injury and only completed one

race in January.

race in January. Slavonia is next.

The giant slalom competition, was

their first ever Winter Olympic

Games.

Games. The cross country skier,

Vesna Fabjan carries the flag.

Another country making its debut

here are to Pyeongchang in the

Winter games and that is Singapore.

They have a Short Track skater

carrying their flag. One of six

countries making their debut in

Pyeongchang. The 18-year-old has

lived in Canada since she was aged

four.

four.

Mania next. They have the

latest in a dynasty of Cross-Country

Skiing is.

More than half of Argentina's

all-time Winter Olympic

representatives have come in Alpine

Skiing. The most famous name on the

list is the

list is the retired four-time

Olympic champion. The flag bearer is

skier, Sebastiano Gastaldi.

skier, Sebastiano Gastaldi. Iceland

became the smallest nation to

qualify for football World Cup when

they booked their spot at this

summerglobal gathering. Haven't seen

any of their famously noisy

supporters around Pyeongchang. Their

team is only five strong at Sochi

four years ago. The class of 2018 is

similarly small with just five

athletes once again.

athletes once again. Welcome to

Ireland. Great to see them and their

flag bearer, snowboarder, Seamus

O'Connor, who has lived in the

United States his whole life. He is

the only seasoned Olympian of the

Irish team of five. He competed in

Sochi aged just 16. Azerbaijan 180

medals at the Rio summer Olympics

but they have yet to win one at the

Winter Olympics. Their biggest

Winter Olympic team was four

athletes they took to the 1998 and

2002 games. It is a lonely affair

for the sole representative, the

Alpine skier, Patrick Brachner. He

originally hails from Austria but

switched to Azerbaijan in 2010.

Andorra, tiny principality located

in the high mountains of the

Pyrenees between France and Spain.

An estimated 10 million people visit

every year, drawn especially by the

Winter sports scene. Their flag

bearer is a cross-country skier, who

competed in the World Championships

in Finland.

in Finland. Albania's flag bearer is

the first winter Olympian at the

Sochi games and her best finish was

60th in the giant slalom. So

probably won't get anywhere near the

podium this time.

podium this time. Eritrea, this is

their first ever Olympian in the

Winter games. He competes in the

men's giant slalom and slalom. 21

years old, raised in Alberta, Canada

but represented Eritrea in the 2012

youth Olympics. His parents fled

Eritrea in the 1980s and he talks

about meeting his absolute

about meeting his absolute idol.

Estonia is next. All absorbing the

sad news of the Katie Ormerod, who

misses out for Great Britain.

Arguably the biggest hope for

Estonia will not be here in

Estonia will not be here in winter

-- Pyeongchang.

-- Pyeongchang. We welcome Ecuador

to the stage. Their flag bearer is

known as the tarmac skier, given his

training is done on roller skis. He

created the Ecuadorian ski

Federation from scratch and he will

be in action week from today. We

welcome Great Britain. Lizzy

Yarnold, Skeleton hero from Sochi.

What a moment, looking to defend her

title, despite an inconsistent

season. She won in Sochi by nearly a

second. Freestyle Skiing, James

Ward, Katie Summerhayes, here with

her sister Molly, who works in

McDonald's. Lizzie Atkin, all

championship medallists. The men and

women curling teams won medals in

Sochi four years ago. They are the

reigning Commonwealth champions and

Elise Christie, the outstanding

contender hoping to put the bitter

disappointment of Sochi behind her.

We wish them all well. We welcome

Australia. Their flag bearer is

Scotty James, the two time reigning

snowboard champion and hoping to be

Australia's first Snowboarding

motherless. Austria have hosted the

Winter Olympics twice in 1974 and 19

86. The slalom superstar has won six

championship titles. A win for him

here would be one of the biggest

stories of The Games. Anna Veith,

gold in Sochi and followed it up

with two gold medals including the

super G title in America, is the

flag bearer. Now, the Olympic

athletes from Russia. So much talk

about Russian involvement here of

course and we will be hearing from

the IOC president, Thomas Bach

before too long.

before too long. Amongst others,

they do have some sensational figure

skaters?

They do, two young ladies

fighting for a gold medal, in fact,

three could be on the podium.

Uzbekistan next. It is the first

Olympic medal in 1994 when they got

the gold in the inaugural women's

aerials. She tried to telephone her

parents, and officials had to tell

her mother had died three weeks

earlier. Her mother's wish was she

shouldn't be told of her death until

after the Olympic competition was

finished. Ukraine, their flag bearer

is part of Ukraine's relay team who

won a surprise gold medal at the

2014 Sochi Olympics. Of course, they

won the gold in 1984 in Figure

Skating?

They did.

Skating?

They did.

Athletes

representing Iran.

representing Iran. The cross-country

skier is carrying the flag.

skier is carrying the flag. Also the

cross-country skier is returning for

his third Winter Olympics. Italy

next. Can it be 30 years ago in

Calgary that the Italian skiing icon

won the gold in the giant skiing

slalom. He went on to get more in

1992 and 1994.

Their flag bearer is only 15.

British fans no doubt remember her

500 metre silver medal. She was

upgraded to the silver medal after

Elise Christie was disqualified.

Israel. Another figure for Israel,

the flag bearer.

He had a phenomenal

skate in the Team event this

morning. Cat among the pigeons, this

gentleman, with a potential medal

here.

India is next. This is an emotional

athlete but there Luge athlete, who

will be competing for the last time.

He is delighted to finish his career

in Asia. Only their tennis player

with seven summer Olympics to his

name has taken part in more

competitions.

Japan and ski jumper is carrying the

flag. His appearance in the men's

normal hill qualification last night

was a record eighth Olympic

appearance. He won silver and bronze

in Sochi, a fine contribution to

Japan's total of eight medals in

Russia.

The 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary

saw Jamaica have a bobsleigh team

and ended in tears after the

four-man crew were disqualified

after crashing on the third run. But

it helped the making of the film

Cool Running and 30 years on, they

will be represented in the women's

bobsleigh competition for the first

time.

Here we go with George and they will

feature four athletes competing in

Alpine Skiing, Figure Skating and

the louche. It is figure skater

Morisi Kvitelashvili who is holding

the flag and competed for Russia

until 2016 and now

until 2016 and now trains alongside

the Georgian athletes.

Beijing, the

first city to host the summer and

Winter Olympics when they host the

next games in 2022. China are next

out and watch out for the

snowboarder, who has won the last

two world titles and could be

arrival to the US sensation. The

flag that China carried by the Short

Track speed skater. Three-time gold

medallist.

medallist. The Czech Republic are

next. Carrying their flag is the

reigning Olympic snowboard cross

champion, who is famous for her odd

choice of race ritual, she often

wears a moustache painted above her

lip. At the last Olympics she opted

for red, white and blue, the colours

of the Czechoslovakian flag.

Chile next and their flag bearer is

Henrik von Appen who competed in

four out of five events in Sochi

four years ago. Also they have an

Alpine Skiing who competed at the

2000 Olympics he was just 15 years

and 80 days.

Kazakhstan made their Games debut in

90 94 and they have one medal, which

came in 2014. That competitor is not

quite on form at the moment but he

will be looking to try to get onto

that podium somewhere.

that podium somewhere. Their flag

bearer is a short-track speed

skater.

skater. And another huge team, 226

Canadians. And we have joint

flag-bearers, with Tessa virtue and

Scott Moore, who came out of

retirement to win a world title, and

now, is now looking for their second

Olympic gold, having won in

Vancouver and taken silver in Sochi.

And very popular they are, too. And

I absolutely love to watch them on

the ice. Along with the rest of

their team-mates they will be

looking to set up some old for team

Canada.

Canada.

And they will be going for

the gold in the bobsleigh is well.

And here in Pyeongchang Canada are

going to sing a gender neutral

anthem for the first time. As we

welcome Kenya. Their flag bearer is

a 90-year-old who was born in Kenya

but raised in Austria. She is

competing in Alpine skiing events,

which bucks the trend for

competitors from the non-Alpine

nations. Kosovo made their Olympic

debut at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Their flag bearer is an Alpine

skier.

Colombia are competing in the Winter

Olympics for only the second time.

They only had one representative in

Vancouver in 2010 and this time they

have a squad of four, which includes

a 42-year-old skier who only took up

the sport in 2016 and has dreamed of

appearing in the Games ever since he

moved to Salt Lake City from

Colombia in the year 2000. Korea's

most successful Olympian is a Winter

Olympics, roster next.

Olympics, roster next. And four

years later she added to her tally

with gold and silver in Turin.

Kurdistan won a pair of medals in

Beijing. Want to watch here is

Yevgeny Timufi, who was a

last-minute call up after his

team-mates suffered an injury during

a training session.

a training session. One of the areas

you can ski in Cyprus is the slopes

of Mount Olympus. And I'm sure this

22-year-old has been down those

slopes a few times. The flag bearer

here was presented with a

scholarship by the IOC to help him

prepare for events here in

Pyeongchang. Chinese Taipei, a team

of four.

of four. A luge athlete carrying the

flag.

flag. Like the Indian... Thailand.

Violinist Vanessa Mae infamously

represented Thailand in the giant

slalom in Sochi, finishing 67th but

her result was wiped off the slate

after it was found her qualifying

results had been manipulative. She

of course was cleared of any

wrongdoing and tried to qualify for

Pyeongchang but a shoulder injury

ended those hopes. Turkey produces

75% of the world's hazelnuts! I

could do with some of those right

now, to be honest with you! They

have some ice dancers to watch out

for - any chances for those, Robin?

And they have been creeping up in

the world standings over the last

couple of seasons. Lovely to watch,

not going to be in bed all

contention, but great competitors.

The flag bearer for Togo is a

cross-country skier. Back here

having carried the flag in the

Opening Ceremony in Togo's debut

Games in Sochi four years ago. Next

up, a very colourful character from

Tonga, Fita Taufatoufoa. He was the

shirtless Tongan who became an

internet sensation in Rio when he

was famously oiled up and

bare-chested! I didn't think he

would do it again, Robin!

Well, here

it is.

The man has a style, doesn't

he?! Pakistan has a sixth biggest

population on the Earth. Their

Winter Olympics record, of course,

is virtually nonexistent. They have

got two in their team in

Pyeongchang, an Alpine skier

carrying the flag. He is joined by

his nephew, who is a cross-country

skier, so uncle clawing rank over a

nephew. -- pulling rank. Portugal

have got two athletes. An Alpine

skier and a cross-country skier

carrying the flag.

Here come Poland. Want to watch here

will be there ski jumper, who jumped

his way into Polish folklore in

Sochi, Kamil Stock, by winning a

pair of ski jumping gold is. The

flag bearer is one of the few

athletes to break the Dutch

struggled on the sport in 2014, the

Netherlands winning eight of 12 gold

medals on offer. But they could not

stop the Polish athlete in the

individual 1500 metres event.

individual 1500 metres event. Next,

their Alpine skier is just 17 and he

was inspired to take up winter

sports when watching the Sochi Games

four years ago. He was born in the

states but moved to Puerto Rico when

he was nine. Competed in the junior

World Championships in Sweden last

year. As we welcome France to the

stage, worth remembering perhaps

that a French city was one of the

three candidates for these Games.

Carrying the flag is there legendary

biathlete Martin Foucade, who has

won 11 titles during his career, the

most recent of which came last year

in the 12.5 kilometres pursuit.

Next, Macedonia.

Next, Macedonia. Team of three. The

flag bearer is a cross-country

skier, competed in the winter youth

Olympic Games in 2016 and at the

senior World Championships in

Finland last year. He has competed

in both biathlon and cross-country

skiing at international level.

skiing at international level. A

real legend next for Finland,

carrying the flag, competing in his

seventh

seventh Winter Olympics, Yanni

Hanan.

Hanan. They have collected more

medals than anyone else since NHL

players began competing.

players began competing. Of course,

not many NHL players allowed to

participate this time around in the

ice hockey.

17-year-old Alpine skier competing

for the Philippines. He carries the

flag, and with him Michael Martinez,

a figure skater who carried the flag

for the Philippines in Sochi, where

he finish 19th.

He did, a fantastic

performance, and he will be looking

to improve on that here in

Pyeongchang.

For Hungary, they're

next.

next. Figure skating has delivered

all six of their Winter Olympics

Devils, the most recent of which

came in Lake Placid, getting silver

behind the Soviet Union in an

incredibly tight contest.

incredibly tight contest.

I remember

somebody else being in those Games!

Can't think who! Hong Kong next.

Their Alpine skier, for whom the

Olympic sport runs in the family,

her aunt represented China and Hong

Kong in swimming at the Olympic aims

in 1984 and her other aunt swam at

the Asia Games in Hong Kong. Now,

stand-by for the roar of the night.

And a truly historic moment here in

Pyeongchang. We welcome the children

back from their time travels

earlier. Much more from them,

incidentally. The unified team,

under the unified flag, of Korea.

Joint flag bearers as well, from the

north and the south. From the north,

an I football player and from the

South, a bobsleigh competitor. Hard,

I suppose, Robin, to fully

understand what this means two South

Koreans, who some would argue are

still very much at war...

But there

is nothing like sport, and it is

almost a cliche but you see people

who have one thing in common and

that is a love of sport, which

brings countries and nations and

athletes together. Politics and

religion out the window when it

comes to sport - from the athletes,

who perform from the heart. We were

watching and being told people were

sobbing in the audience, wanting to

be here earlier to actually be

around and to see this moment

happened.

ROBIN COUSINS: It is incredibly

inspiring

JOHN HUNT: Well, it has attracted

some of the major players on the

world political scene. Mike Pence,

the United States Vice President, is

here, and also, which some people

can scarcely believe, is the sister

of Kim Jong-un, the leader of North

Korea. She is here in the stadium

tonight.

JOHN HUNT: In terms of athletes,

well, North Korea did not compete in

Sochi four years ago but they have a

22 strong team, including figure

skaters, Robin...

ROBIN COUSINS: Who have an

incredibly bright future ahead of

them. They're around the top 15 in

the world at the moment, they train

in Montreal, they have a wonderful

style, they have great commitment

and camaraderie with their training

mates and rivals, and have come

pretty much out of nowhere. Nobody

knew where they were training or

where they came from but they really

do have a lot of class and certainly

deserve to be on the international

stage and on the ice here in

Pyeongchang.

South Korea have one

athlete who could have an

interesting Games in the speed

skating. The latest prodigy to roll

off the South Korean production

line, it is their sport, of course.

And this young athlete has won at

every distance this season.

That is what is called making the

most of your moment.

most of your moment.

They have been

waiting backstage, sitting and

rubbing their hands together,

waiting for this moment. There is

nothing like walking out into the

stadium for the opening ceremony and

feeling it between all the teams.

All those athletes to do one thing

and one thing only and that is to

deliver the best results they can.

I

feel a little bit sorry for the four

in the Greece team, who have been

sitting in their seats for over an

hour.

Heated seats, I believe.

Also,

some of the teams have jackets with

electric battery packs, to keep them

warm.

I have heard about them, I

haven't seen them yet.

haven't seen them yet. It is a sea

of colour, athletes and different

countries.

A departure that the

athletes, but business as usual

tomorrow. There will be those

sitting there who know they haven't

got a chance but will be delighted

just to be sitting there. There will

be those in that crowd of athletes

knowing this is their big chance to

win the gold medal.

There are a lot

of great athletes, who don't get to

experience this event because this

should be part of the experience.

But they are competing tomorrow

morning on some of them have

competed today already and they have

jobs to be done.

I do hope you are

enjoying the opening ceremony here

live from Pyeongchang, South Korea.

The Winter Olympics 2018. A look now

at the four seasons of Korea, the

changing seasons, changing colours.

It is quite barren in winter, aside

from the mountain tops with snow on

them. The summer here is supposed to

be absolutely beautiful.

be absolutely beautiful. Buckwheat,

across the nation. Coming out now, a

beautiful

song called Arirang. Arirang will be

sung by a 77-year-old.

# Arirang, Arirang, Arariyo...

# Arirang gogaero neomeoganda

# Nareul beorigo gashineun nimeun

# Shimrido motgaseo balbyeongnanda

# Cheongcheonhaneuren

janbyeoldo manko

# Uri ne gaseumen huimangdo manta

# Arirang gogaero neomeoganda

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Our five, intrepid time travellers,

continued their journey. They are

safely on their way to their next

destination.

destination. Here, in a future

world, the five children see their

future selves after they have

realised their dreams.

Through the glittering Gate. One is

becoming a doctor.

Nuri, has become an artificial

intelligence specialist.

And another one is a K pop star.

Anne Dunham Urban simulation expert.

-- and and.

And finally, a teacher and

holographic specialist.

South Korea see themselves at the

centre of what they refer to as the

fourth Industrial Revolution. This

gate is to play a prominent part in

the next stage of the ceremony.

Light emitting from the Gate to the

Future expands and creates a new

world. In that world everybody

communicates and interacts freely

with one another.

with one another. And here, the next

part of our ceremony. How much fun

can you have with a doorway? This,

the most exciting experience I am

sure since Monsters Inc.

JOHN HUNT: The image of a smiley

face. The world of new technology.

This is the theme of technical

innovation. This is the link to the

world. Messages are sent out to the

world from the media link. The media

link connects people and worlds.

This media link continues with a

step towards peace.

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

timer for the speeches now. Thomas

Bach from the IOC. He will give his

speech to the Olympic community in a

few moments. First to speak, though,

is the president of the Pyeongchang

Olympic Games committee. That is

Thomas Bach.

Thomas Bach. Little trip there, that

would have been interesting!

Probably been a bit awkward for

Thomas Bach in the Balotelli over

the last few weeks, with the Russian

situation. Now, he's gone the wrong

way. -- for Thomas Bach in reality.

Would not want to be at their

Christmas party, Robin!

Lee Hee-beom...

TRANSLATION: President Moon Jae-in

and His First Lady of

the Republic of Korea, IOC

President Thomas Bach and the global

Olympic Family Members,

Excellencies, Majesties,

Royal Highnesses, Distinguished

Guests at home and abroad,

Dear Athletes and Officials from all

Participating NOC Delegations,

Spectators, Ladies and Gentlemen...

Nice to meet you, everyone!

And my warm welcome

to Pyeongchang 2018

Olympic Winter Games!

HE SPEAKS IN KOREAN

TRANSLATION: Now we are facing

the historic moments in our lifetime

opening together the 23rd

Olympic Winter Games

in Pyeongchang 2018.

Olympic Winter Games taking place

on the Korean soil in 30 years

following the Seoul 1988 Olympics

are the biggest global winter

festival participated by over 6,500

athletes and officials from 92

National Olympic Committees.

In 1948, Korean Athletes took part

in the Winter Games held in St

Moritz for the first time

in the middle of the utterly