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WATCH: Time-lapse video shows darkness falling over the Olympic Stadium in Pyeongchang, South Korea as the opening ceremony of the Games gets underway – Feb 9, 2018
It was a cold kickoff to the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Friday morning but that didn’t stop athletes and fans from celebrating the opening ceremony.
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The Games started at 8 p.m. local time, (6 a.m. ET), with a dazzling fireworks show, a dancing white tiger and a choreographed dance of drummers in a stadium packed with around 35,000 spectators.
Here are some of the biggest moments from the opening ceremonies.
Dancing and fireworks
The Games started with an opening spectacle of dancers and fireworks.
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Fireworks go off after the during the opening ceremony.
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Fireworks go off outside the stadium during.
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Performers entertain the fans.
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White Tiger & Five Kids perform during the opening ceremony.
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A unified Korean team of athletes marched out together carrying the unification flag as South Korean President Moon Jae In watched from the stands near Kim Yo Jong, the sister of the North Korean leader.
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Unified Koreas flagbearers (North Korea's ice hockey player) Hwang Chung Gum (L) and (South Korea's bobsledder) Won Yun-jong (R) lead the delegation during the opening ceremony.
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Unified Koreas athletes parade during the opening ceremony.
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Unified Koreas flagbearer Hwang Chung Gum (L) and Won Yun-jong lead the delegation parade.
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Unified Koreas delegation parades during the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games.
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Kim Yo Jong and President of South Korea, Moon Jae-in.
WATCH: South Koreans welcome visit of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s sister
Canada sent over 200 athletes for 105 events. The nation has started competing in curling’s mixed doubles, luge and ski jumping.
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Ice dancing pair, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, were Canada’s flag-bearers for the event. The duo won gold in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, and silver in the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Members of Canada team during the opening ceremony.
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Russia marches under Olympic flag
The opening ceremonies included 168 Russian athletes who marched under the “Olympic Athletes from Russia” banner, wearing neutral uniforms.
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This comes after the Russian doping scandal, resulting in the nation being banned by the International Olympic Committee. However, some athletes were still invited to compete. If they win events, the Olympic flag will fly and the Olympic anthem will be played.
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Athletes from Russia wave during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.
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Russian athletes carrying the Olympic flag.
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Athletes of Russia arrive during the opening ceremony.
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Tongan flag-bearer Pita Taufatofua was part of the opening ceremonies at the Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium. And just like the Rio Olympics in 2016, he marched without a shirt (despite the freezing conditions).
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Mike Pence sits near North Korea delegation
U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence and the sister of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un did not interact despite being seated just feet apart during the Olympic opening ceremony.
Vice-President Mike Pence, bottom right, speaks with second lady Karen Pence at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics. Behind Pence are Kim Yong Nam, second from top right, president of the Presidium of North Korean Parliament, and Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Photo by Patrick Semansky - Pool /Getty Images
WATCH: Mike Pence, Kim Jong Un’s sister seated next to each other at Olympic opening ceremonies
Lighting of Olympic cauldron
The opening ceremony capped off with a magnificent display of the lighting of the Olympic cauldron.
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Fireworks erupt as the Olympic Cauldron is lit during the opening ceremony.
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The Olympic torch is carried into the stadium during the opening ceremony.
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The Olympic torch is carried to the cauldron.
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Kim Yu Na, South Korean figure skater lights the cauldron.
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The Olympic cauldron is lit during the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium.
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