The 24th edition of the Winter Olympics is officially under way after the Olympic cauldron was lit in a restrained opening ceremony in Beijing.
Almost 3,000 athletes from 91 nations will compete across the Games.
IOC president Tomas Bach said one of the missions of the Games was to “unite humankind in all our diversity”.
The Olympic torch was placed into the center of a giant snowflake, which was then illuminated to become the cauldron.
The snowflake is made up of placards with the names of the 91 nations competing in Beijing.
Speaking during the ceremony, Bach addressed “all political authorities across the globe” during his speech, asking them to “give peace a chance”.
“In our fragile world, where division, conflict and mistrust are on the rise, we show the world: yes, it is possible to be fierce rivals, while at the same time living peacefully and respectfully together,” he said.
BBC
