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( February 2018 ) 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony Yuna Kim , South Korean Olympic figure skating champion , lights the Olympic cauldron Date 9 February 2018 ( 2018 - 02 - 09 ) Time 20 : 00 -- 22 : 20 KST ( UTC + 9 ) Location Pyeongchang , South Korea Coordinates 37 ° 40 ′ 03 '' N 128 ° 42 ′ 20 '' E  /  37.66750 ° N 128.70556 ° E  / 37.66750 ; 128.70556 Coordinates : 37 ° 40 ′ 03 '' N 128 ° 42 ′ 20 '' E  /  37.66750 ° N 128.70556 ° E  / 37.66750 ; 128.70556 Also known as Peace in Motion Filmed by SBS and OBS Part of a series on the 2018 Winter Olympics Bid process ( bid details ) Venues Torch relay Mascots Broadcasters Opening ceremony ( flag bearers ) Chronological summary Medal table ( medalists ) World and Olympic records Controversies ( ban on Russian athletes ) Closing ceremony ( flag bearers ) Paralympics IOC KOC POCOG The opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics was held at the Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium in Pyeongchang , South Korea on 9 February 2018 . It began at 20 : 00 KST and finished at approximately 22 : 20 KST . The Games were officially opened by President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae - in . Contents ( hide ) 1 Preparations 2 Ceremony 3 Programme 3.1 Parade of Nations 3.2 Torch lighting 3.3 Wish Fire 3.4 Intel ® Drone Light Show 4 Controversies 4.1 Mike Pence 4.2 Russian hacking 5 Dignitaries in attendance 6 Anthems 7 Ceremony key team 8 References 9 External links Preparations ( edit ) The site of the opening ceremony , Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium , was built specifically for the Games . The pentagonal stadium seats 35,000 . The organizers for the event said the shape was chosen because it is a combination of different shapes , a circle , a square , and a triangle , which represent heaven , earth , and mankind . No Olympic or Paralympic events will be held at the stadium , which will only be used for the opening and closing ceremonies . The venue will be torn down afterwards . The broadcast of the Opening Ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games was available in more than 200 countries around the world . Ha Hyun - woo of the band Guckkasten , Ahn Ji - young of the musical duo Bolbbalgan4 , Lee Eun - mi and Jeon In - kwon with his band Deulgukhwa performed and sang John Lennon 's `` Imagine '' at the opening ceremony . The Rainbow Children 's Choir performed an arrangement , with Korean traditional musical instruments , of the national anthem , `` Aegukga '' . The multiethnic children 's choir was formed to educate the Korean public about multicultural families living in Korea . Insooni sang the theme song for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Torch Relay , `` Let Everyone Shine '' . Ceremony ( edit ) The ceremony 's message centered on peace , passion , harmony , and convergence . Five children from rural Gangwon province led the ceremony , which included one Inmyeonjo ( a mythical creature with a body of a bird and a head of a man , a creature that only appears when the world is at peace ) , four mythical creatures , including a white tiger -- spirit animal protector of Korea and the mascot of these Games , natural floral and fauna , and a cast of 2,000 . Five children were used to symbolize the five Olympic rings , and the five names were chosen to represent fire , water , wood , metal , and earth , the five elements that are believed to make up the Earth . Augmented reality and 5G technology were also incorporated in the event . The largest drone show in history , featuring 1,218 Shooting Star drones , was planned for the ceremony but cancelled at the last minute ; television audiences were shown a version that had been recorded the previous December . During the opening ceremony the organizing committee was a victim of a cyber attack , but without major consequences . Programme ( edit ) Parade of Nations ( edit ) Main article : 2018 Winter Olympics Parade of Nations The Parade of Nations was led , according to custom due to hosting the original ancient Olympics , by the Greek team , followed by other competing countries in alphabetical order based on their names in the Korean language , with the host country , South Korea , concluding the march . The delegations from both the host nation South Korea and North Korea ( Korea at the 2018 Winter Olympics ) marched under the Korean unification flag . South Korean Won Yun - jong and North Korean Hwang Chung - gum both held the flagpole . Even though the temperature in the stadium during the ceremony was very cold , Bermuda 's delegation wore shorts and Tongan Pita Taufatofua repeated his shirtless and oiled up Summer Olympic appearance . Background music for the parade began with an instrumental version of `` Hand in Hand '' by Koreana and included modern dance remixes of songs such as `` 단발 머리 '' by Cho Yong - pil and of traditional Korean music , as well as the following K - pop hits : `` Gangnam Style '' by Psy , `` Likey '' by Twice , `` Fantastic Baby '' by Big Bang , `` DNA '' by BTS , and `` Red Flavor '' by Red Velvet . `` Red Flavor '' was cut off just as the unified Korean team was introduced . Torch lighting ( edit ) See also : 2018 Winter Olympics torch relay Cauldron The Olympic flame was on a 101 - day relay across South Korea . The start of the ceremony takes place in Olympia of Greece . Apostles Angelis , 24 years old cross-country skier , is selected to be the first torchbearer . He said `` It is a great honour for me to be chosen as the first torchbearer for the Olympic Winter Games of 2018 . It is truly a unique moment that I am looking forward to . I feel very proud and with a unique sense of happiness . '' Park Ji - Sung , football player in Republic of Korea , was the second person to hold the torch . After the flame touring around Greece for a week , it reached the Acropolis on 30th of October . There were 36 ceremonies held in different cities over a week , then the flame arrived to the PyeongChang Panathenaic Stadium . More than 500 torchbearers participated to follow the rituals of Olympic cycle , and carried the message of peace . In the stadium , Opera soloist Sumi Hwang sang the Olympic anthem during the torch lighting ceremony . The final person to hold the torch was Inbee Park , the golfer from Republic of Korea . Chung Su - hyon from North Korea and Park Jong - ah from South Korea carried the torch and headed up stairs toward the cauldron . As the torch neared the cauldron , an ice skating rink with South Korean figure skater Yuna Kim was revealed . Yuna Kim is the well - known figure skater who won gold medal in 2010 and silver metal in 2014 . The cauldron was designed to represent a full moon when it is not lit . Kim received the torch and lit the cauldron . Wish fire ( edit ) The final segment entitled `` Wish Fire '' featured Korean dance group Just Jerk ( who became known internationally for their participation in the twelfth season of America 's Got Talent ) entered the stage dressed as Dokkaebi , and performers with sparklers on roller blades . This segment in total featured 2,000 fireworks within and out of the stadium , some reaching as high as 1,300 metres ( 4,300 ft ) . Intel ® drone light Show ( edit ) More than 1,200 Intel Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ( UAVs ) or drones flying above Pyeong Chang to celebrate the opening of 2018 Winter Olympic Games . Intel ® drone team now holds the Guinness World Record of flying largest number of drones . The drones flew together to form custom animations illustrating snow boarding , skiing , other different sports , as well as the iconic Olympic rings . The Shooting Star drones carried on the symbol of unity and progress from lighting of the torch . Controversies ( edit ) Mike Pence ( edit ) While there is no protocol requiring guests to stand for the host country 's arrival , United States Vice President Mike Pence was criticized for not standing , as North and South Korean athletes entered during the Parade of Athletes . Pence was accused of hypocrisy , with critics drawing parallels to national anthem protests by NFL athletes . Russian hacking ( edit ) On 24 February , the Washington Post reported that U.S. intelligence uncovered Russian spies hacked computers during the Opening Ceremony , an act that was previously speculated to be the work of North Korea . Analysts believed the Russians instigated the February 9 attack as a way to retaliate for the International Olympic Committee 's decision to ban Russia from the 2018 Winter Olympics as punishment for doping violations . Dignitaries in attendance ( edit ) Mike Pence , Vice President of the United States Co-Prince of Andorra and President of France Emmanuel Macron Governor General Julie Payette Politburo standing member Han Zheng Vice President Óscar Naranjo President Kersti Kaljulaid Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean - Yves Le Drian and Minister of Sports Laura Flessel President Frank - Walter Steinmeier Sports Minister Luca Lotti Prime Minister Shinzo Abe President of Korea Moon Jae - In President Dalia Grybauskaitė President Hashim Thaçi Grand Duke Henri Prince Albert II King Willem Alexander , Queen Máxima and Prime Minister Mark Rutte President of the Presidium of the Supreme People 's Assembly Kim Yong - nam and Director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department of the Workers ' Party of Korea Kim Yo - jong President Andrzej Duda Minister of Youth and Sports Vanja Udovičić President Andrej Kiska President Alain Berset Princess Anne Vice President Mike Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence Secretary - General António Guterres Kim Yo - jong attending the ceremony On 9 February 2018 , Kim Yo - jong -- sister of Kim Jong - un -- attended the ceremony in Pyeongchang , South Korea . This was a first time that a member of the ruling Kim dynasty had visited South Korea since the Korean War . Kim Yo - jong shook hands with South Korean president Moon Jae - in before sitting down to watch the ceremony together . Anthems ( edit ) Rainbow Children 's Choir -- South Korean National Anthem Sumi Hwang -- Olympic Hymn Ceremony key team ( edit ) Artistic Director : Yang Jung - woong Executive Director , creative : Song Seung - whan Executive Director , cinematography : Lim Tae - hong , Andrew References ( edit ) ^ Jump up to : Chappell , Bill ( February 9 , 2018 ) . `` Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony : Pyeongchang Welcomes The World '' . NPR . Retrieved February 11 , 2018 . Jump up ^ Eaton , Joe ( February 9 , 2018 ) . `` It 's Time for the Pop - Up Olympics '' . CITYLAB . Retrieved February 11 , 2018 . Jump up ^ `` Pyeongchang 2018 Opening Ceremony LIVE on 9 February 2018 '' . 18 January 2018 . Retrieved 8 February 2018 . ^ Jump up to : Hong , C. ( 30 January 2018 ) . `` Ha Hyun Woo , Bolbbalgan4 's Ahn Ji Young , And More To Perform At Olympics Opening Ceremony '' . Soompi . Viki , Inc . Retrieved 1 February 2018 . ^ Jump up to : Garcia , Maira ( 10 February 2018 ) . `` Who Were the Singers at the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics ? '' . nytimes.com . Retrieved 2018 - 02 - 11 . Jump up ^ Garcia , Maira ( 10 Feb 2018 ) . `` Who Were the Singers at the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics ? '' . PyeongChang 2018 . Jump up ^ PyeongChang 2018 ( 21 September 2017 ) . `` ( ENG ) Theme song for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Torch Relay ( ENG sub ) '' . Retrieved 8 February 2018 -- via YouTube . Jump up ^ `` Inside the Olympics Opening Ceremony World - Record Drone Show '' . WIRED . Retrieved 2018 - 02 - 09 . ^ Jump up to : `` Winter Olympics 2018 opening ceremony -- live ! '' . Guardian . 9 February 2018 . Retrieved 9 February 2018 . ^ Jump up to : `` Winter Olympics 2018 opening ceremony review : Pyeongchang unites the world in a blizzard of emotion and effects '' . The Telegraph . Retrieved February 11 , 2018 . Jump up ^ Kaufman , Gil ( 6 December 2017 ) . `` 2018 Winter Olympics Kick Off With Korean Stars PSY & BTS During Opening Ceremonies '' . Billboard . Retrieved 9 February 2018 . ^ Jump up to : `` Olympia Awaits Flame Lighting Ceremony for PyeongChang 2018 '' . Olympic Games . 19 October 2017 . Jump up ^ `` Information to the Media - PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Flame - Lighting Ceremony '' . Olympic Games . 23 October 2017 . ^ Jump up to : Keh , Andrew ( 9 Feb 2018 ) . `` Winter Olympics 2018 Opening Ceremony : Highlights and Analysis '' . PyeongChang 2018 . Jump up ^ Behind the Scenes of the PyeongChang 2018 Opening Ceremony Jump up ^ `` Intel ® Drones at The Olympic Games '' . intel ® . Jump up ^ `` A Record - Breaking Show at PyeongChang 2018 '' . intel ® . 2018 . ^ Jump up to : Radnofsky , Louise ; Cheng , Jonathan ( 10 February 2018 ) . `` Pence Sat During Opening Ceremony . Some Koreans Took Offense '' . The Wall Street Journal . Jump up ^ Banks , Paul M. ( 9 February 2018 ) . `` Winter Olympics Verify Mike Pence Hypocrisy on NFL National Anthem Protests '' . ChicagoNow . Retrieved 13 February 2018 . Jump up ^ Zilber , Ariel ( 10 February 2018 ) . `` Mike Pence accused of hypocrisy for refusing to stand for Unified Korea during Winter Olympics opening ceremony -- months after walking out of an NFL game because of kneeling players '' . Daily Mail . Retrieved 13 February 2018 . Jump up ^ Meeks , David ( 12 February 2018 ) . `` By not standing for Korea at the 2018 Winter Olympics , VP Mike Pence embarrassed America '' . USA Today . Retrieved 13 February 2018 . Jump up ^ Report : Russian spies behind Winter Olympics cyber attack . US Today . Retrieved 26 February 2018 . Jump up ^ Russian spies reportedly hacked Winter Olympics . CNET . Retrieved 26 February 2018 . ^ Jump up to : `` Winter Olympics opening ceremony : Koreans enter under unified flag -- as it happened '' . The Guardian . Retrieved February 11 , 2018 . Jump up ^ `` Gov. Gen. Julie Payette to attend opening of winter Olympics '' . Jump up ^ `` SOUTH KOREA - CHINA - HAN ZHENG - WINTER OLYMPICS - OPENING CEREMONY '' . February 9 , 2018 . Retrieved February 10 , 2018 . Jump up ^ `` Korea - Estonia summit to help launch peace through Olympics '' . Korea.net. 7 February 2018 . Retrieved 10 February 2018 . President Moon Jae - in held a meeting with President Kersti Kaljulaid of Estonia who is on a visit to Korea to attend the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games . Jump up ^ `` 평창 오는 외국 정상 벌써 15 명 ... ' 올림픽 외교 ' 꽃 피운다 '' . 26 December 2017 . Retrieved 8 February 2018 . Jump up ^ `` Presidente de Alemania apoya diálogo entre Coreas '' ( in Spanish ) . Deutsche Welle . Retrieved 10 February 2018 . Jump up ^ Daniela Cotto ( 9 February 2018 ) . `` Il ministro Lotti a Casa Italia , l'incontro con Lindsey Vonn '' ( in Italian ) . La Stampa . Retrieved 10 February 2018 . Jump up ^ `` Mandatarios de Japón y Corea del Sur acuerdan continuar ejerciendo presión sobre Corea del Norte '' ( in Spanish ) . NHK World . Retrieved 10 February 2018 . Abe y Moon sostuvieron una reunión de aproximadamente una hora en un hotel cerca del Estadio Olímpico de Pyeongchang antes de asistir el viernes a la ceremonia de apertura de los Juegos Olímpicos de Invierno . Jump up ^ `` Lío de protocolo ante la inauguración de los juegos de invierno de Pyeongchang '' ( in Spanish ) . La Vanguardia . Retrieved 10 February 2018 . Jump up ^ `` The President attends the opening ceremony of Winter Olympics '' . President of the Republic of Lithuania. 9 February 2018 . Retrieved 10 February 2018 . Jump up ^ Alan Crosby ( 10 February 2018 ) . `` Winter Olympics Debut A 10th - Anniversary Gift For Kosovo '' . Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty . Retrieved 10 February 2018 . Hashim Thaci , president of Kosovo , said on February 5 during a ceremony presenting the official Kosovar flag to Tahiri . Jump up ^ `` Grand Duke Henri to Attend Winter Olympics '' . Chronicle.lu . Retrieved 10 February 2018 . Jump up ^ `` Prince Albert II of Monaco ( C ) reacts as he visits the House of Switzerland during the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games , South Korea '' . european pressphoto agency . Retrieved 10 February 2018 . Jump up ^ `` Koningspaar en premier Rutte bij openingsceremonie Pyeongchang '' . Jump up ^ Talmadge , Eric ( 9 February 2018 ) . `` At Olympic Games , Kim Jong Un 's sister takes VIP seat '' . ABC News . AP . Retrieved 2018 - 02 - 09 . Jump up ^ `` Szczerski o rozmowie Dudy z wiceprezydentem USA : od razu wiadomo , że się odbędzie '' . Retrieved 8 February 2018 . Jump up ^ `` Зимске олимпијске игре свечано отворене у Пјончангу -- СПОРТСКИ ЖУРНАЛ '' . Jump up ^ `` 33 개국 정상급 45 명 참석 밝혀 ... 靑 경호 처가 근접 보호 '' . Retrieved 8 February 2018 . Jump up ^ `` JO 2018 : Alain Berset à Pyeongchang pour affirmer la présence de la Suisse '' ( in French ) . La Côte. 10 February 2018 . Retrieved 10 February 2018 . Jump up ^ `` Guterres se reunió con el líder norcoreano Kim Yong - nam '' ( in Spanish ) . Deutsche Welle. 10 February 2018 . Retrieved 10 February 2018 . El secretario general de la ONU , Antonio Guterres , se encontró con el presidente nominal de Corea del Norte , Kim Yong - nam , en el marco de la inauguración de los Juegos Olímpicos de invierno en Pyeongchang . Jump up ^ `` 美 펜스 , 올림픽 대표단 끌고 평창 行 ... 이방 카 참석 은 ' 미정 ' '' . 10 January 2018 . Retrieved 8 February 2018 . Jump up ^ `` 9 February 2018 , Buckingham Palace '' . Court Circular. 9 February 2018 . Retrieved 21 February 2018 . The Princess Royal , Member , International Olympic Committee , and President , British Olympic Association , this evening attended the Opening Reception and Ceremony of the XXIII Winter Olympic Games . Jump up ^ Haas , Benjamin ( 9 February 2018 ) . `` US vice-president skips Olympics dinner in snub to North Korea officials '' . the Guardian . Retrieved 2018 - 02 - 09 . Jump up ^ `` Olympics - Pyeongchang picks ' Nanta ' producer for 2018 ceremonies '' . Seoul , South Korea . Reuters. 2 July 2015 . Retrieved 1 February 2018 . External links ( edit ) Media related to 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony at Wikimedia Commons ( hide ) Olympic Games ceremonies Opening ceremonies Summer 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 2000 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 2028 2032 Winter 1924 1928 1932 1936 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1994 1998 2002 2006 2014 2018 2022 2026 2030 Closing ceremonies Summer 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 2000 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 2028 2032 Winter 1924 1928 1932 1936 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1994 1998 2002 2006 2014 2018 2022 2026 2030 Olympics portal South Korea portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2018_Winter_Olympics_opening_ceremony&oldid=836009151 '' Categories : 2018 Winter Olympics Ceremonies in South Korea Olympics opening ceremonies Hidden categories : CS1 Spanish - language sources ( es ) CS1 Italian - language sources ( it ) CS1 French - language sources ( fr ) Articles to be expanded from February 2018 Use dmy dates from February 2018 Use British English from February 2018 Coordinates on Wikidata Talk Contents About Wikipedia Asturianu Español Français 한국어 日本 語 ไทย Українська 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 12 April 2018 , at 03 : 39 . 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