A cold, solid piece of metal, pressed against your warm chest. This cold piece of metal represents all of your hard work and dedication. Everything that you and your family sacrificed to allow to wear that piece of metal around your neck. The warm glow of the flame lit high above the stadium, the burning passion of victory from all that came before you. The cries of joy from people of all different nations, and the pride of representing where you came from. This is the Olympics.
The Olympics kicked off with the opening ceremony for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The ceremony began with with a spectacular performance and of course showing the Olympic rings, despite one of the five not opening. Right after that, the Olympians walked out in order according to the Russian Cyrillic alphabet. These Olympics made history for having the most countries participate in a winter Olympic game.
Following the procession of the athletes, the Russians treated their audience to a story utilizing multiple giant suspended symbols, along with beautifully choreographed dances and many bright popping colors representing Russia’s history.
Ultimately, Olympian and Sochi native Maria Sharapova brought the Olympic torch into the Fisht Olympic Stadium. The torch would be taken outside to its lofty resting place. The ceremony concluded with the sky being lit up by fireworks.