Best photos of the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games opening ceremony in South Korea
Fireworks explode over the huge crowd gathered in the freezing Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium in South Korea as the spectacular opening ceremony kicks off.
Fireworks exploded over the huge crowd gathered in the freezing Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium in South Korea as the spectacular opening ceremony kicked off. Performances displayed the sweep of Korean history and culture, including a performance called "The Land of Peace". After a chaotic year of nuclear war threats and nuclear and missile tests from the North, it was a striking visual moment.
IBTimes UK presents the best photos from the opening ceremony of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games.
The start of the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic GamesJonathan Nackstrand/AFPFireworks spell out the word 'WELCOME'OBS-IOC via Getty ImagesFireworks go off during the opening ceremonyFrançois-Xavier Marit/AFPFireworks go off as the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games beginsFranck Fife/AFPWhite Tiger and five children enter the arenaJamie Squire/Getty ImagesArtists perform during the opening ceremonyKai Pfaffenbach/ReutersA dragon figure is parade in the stadiumKai Pfaffenbach/ReutersPerformers entertain the stadiumAl Bello/Getty ImagesDancers perform during the opening ceremonyKai Pfaffenbach/ReutersDancers and children perform during the opening ceremonyJamie Squire/Getty ImagesDancers perform during The Land of Peace segmentJamie Squire/Getty ImagesA dancer and the five children wave at the end of their first segmentJamie Squire/Getty ImagesGeneral view of the stadium during the ceremonyPawel Kopczynski/ReutersGeneral view of the stadium during the ceremonyPawel Kopczynski/ReutersArtists perform during the opening ceremonyJavier Soriano/AFPDrummers take part in the opening ceremony.Stefano Rellandini/ReutersTraditional South Korean drummers perform in the stadiumJamie Squire/Getty ImagesTraditional drummers perform during the opening ceremonySean M Haffey/Getty ImagesDrummers perform during the ceremonyStefano Rellandini/ReutersA general view shows the opening ceremonyPawel Kopczynski/ReutersThe South Korean flag, or Taegeukgi, is seen during the opening ceremonySean M Haffey/Getty ImagesThe South Korean flag is formed during the ceremonyKai Pfaffenbach/ReutersThe South Korean flag is carried into the stadium by some of the country's most successful OlympiansJamie Squire/Getty ImagesKim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong shakes hand with South Korea's President Moon Jae-inMartin Bureau/AFPSouth Korea's President Moon Jae-in and President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach wave during the opening ceremonyOdd Andersen/AFPUS Vice President Mike Pence sits in front of North Korea’s nominal head of state Kim Yong Nam, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s younger sister Kim Yo JongYonhap/ReutersImpersonators of Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un are escorted out of the opening ceremonyRichard Heathcote/Getty ImagesNorth Korean cheerleaders sing and waveMaddie Meyer/Getty ImagesFlag bearer Sophia Ralli of Greece leads the teamQuinn Rooney/Getty ImagesFlag bearer Audra Segree of Jamaica and teammates enter the staidumFranck Fife/AFPFlag bearer POCPG Volunteer of Olympic Athletes from Russia and teammates enter the stadiumFranck Fife/AFPFlag bearer Lizzy Yarnold of Great Britain and teammates enter the stadiumMatthias Hangst/Getty ImagesFlag bearer Lizzy Yarnold of Great Britain and teammates enter the stadiumRichard Heathcote/Getty ImagesFlag bearer Erin Hamlin of the United States leads the teamSean M Haffey/Getty ImagesThe United States enter the stadiumMatthias Hangst/Getty ImagesBryce Bennett of the United StatesQuinn Rooney/Getty ImagesTeam Germany walks in the Parade of AthletesQuinn Rooney/Getty ImagesShirtless flag bearer Pita Taufatofua of Tonga leads the team outJamie Squire/Getty ImagesFlag bearer Pita Taufatofua of Tonga greets a Turkish athleteRyan Pierse/Getty ImagesThe North Korea and South Korea Olympic teams enter together under the Korean Unification FlagMatthias Hangst/Getty ImagesThe North Korea and South Korea Olympic teams enter together under the Korean Unification FlagMatthias Hangst/Getty ImagesUnified Korea's athletes parade during the opening ceremonyKirill Kudryavtsev/AFPOutside view of the stadium as fireworks go off during the opening ceremonyJung Yeon-Je/AFPDancers perform during the Opening CeremonySean M Haffey/Getty ImagesDancers perform during the Opening CeremonyQuinn Rooney/Getty ImagesDancers perform during the Opening CeremonyQuinn Rooney/Getty ImagesPerformers entertain the stadiumMatthias Hangst/Getty ImagesDancers perform during the Opening CeremonyMaddie Meyer/Getty ImagesDancers perform during the Opening CeremonyRonald Martinez/Getty ImagesA general view as performers entertain during the Opening CeremonyRichard Heathcote/Getty ImagesArtists perform during the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic GamesJavier Soriano/AFP5G 'candles' are lit during the opening ceremonyMatthias Hangst/Getty ImagesSingers perform during the Opening CeremonyRonald Martinez/Getty ImagesPerformers make the shape of a dove in the stadiumFrançois-Xavier Marit/AFPPerformers entertain the crowds in the stadiumRichard Heathcote/Getty ImagesJeon In-kown, Lee Eun-mi, Ha Hyun-woo and An Ji-yeong perform ImagineMatthias Hangst/Getty ImagesA performer sings during the opening ceremonyMark Ralston/AFPHwang Su-mi performs the Olympic AnthemQuinn Rooney/Getty ImagesParticipants carry the Olympic flagMohd Rasfan/AFPThe torchbearer enters the stadiumSean M Haffey/Getty ImagesHockey players from the unified Korean team carry the Olympic flame up towards the cauldronStefano Rellandini/ReutersThe Olympic torch is carried to the cauldronDavid J Phillip/Getty ImagesKim Yu-na, South Korean Figure Skater prepares to light the cauldronDavid J Phillip/Getty ImagesKim Yu-na, South Korean Figure Skater prepares to light the cauldronDavid J Phillip/Getty ImagesKim Yu-na, South Korean Figure Skater prepares to light the cauldronDavid J Phillip/Getty ImagesKim Yu-na, South Korean Figure Skater lights the cauldron during the Opening CeremonyDavid J Phillip/Getty ImagesThe flame reaches the Olympic CauldronDavid J Phillip/Getty ImagesThe Olympic cauldron burns at the climax of the opening ceremonyJamie Squire/Getty ImagesFireworks erupt as the Olympic Cauldron is litDavid J Phillip/Getty Images
