Chinese athletes Dinigeer Yilamujian, left, and Zhao Jiawen wave as they place the Olympic flame into a giant snowflake during the opening ceremony on Friday, February 4. The choice of Dinigeer and Zhao appears symbolic and deliberate. Dinigeer is a Uyghur, an ethnic minority in China's far west region of Xinjiang where China has been accused of massive human-rights violations. Zhao is of Han decent, the dominant ethnicity in China.

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In pictures: The Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing

Updated 1637 GMT (0037 HKT) February 4, 2022

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Much of the world's attention was on the Beijing National Stadium on Friday as the venue hosted the opening ceremony for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

The stadium, commonly referred to as the Bird's Nest because of its design, also hosted the opening ceremony for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Beijing is the first city in history to host both a Summer and a Winter Olympics.

Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the ceremony, and he was joined by many international dignitaries. But notably absent were leaders of major democratic powers, as Great Britain, Australia and Canada are among those to join a US-led diplomatic boycott of these Games, citing Beijing's human-rights record.

This is the second Olympics to be held during the coronavirus pandemic. As with last year's Summer Olympics in Tokyo, a raft of Covid-19 countermeasures have been put in place and the Games will be held inside what authorities have called a "closed loop system" — a bubble completely cut off from the rest of the city. Tickets for the Games will not be sold to the general public; they will be distributed by authorities instead.

Fireworks burst in the shape of the Olympic rings.

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Children perform during the opening ceremony.

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Performers holding doves surround the Olympic flame.

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The Chinese and Olympic flags fly together at the opening ceremony.

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Performers take part in Friday's ceremony.

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Soldiers prepare to raise the Olympic flag.

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The Olympic flag is carried into the stadium.

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China's team enters the stadium during the parade of nations.

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Fireworks explode over the Beijing National Stadium.

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Members of Team USA pose for a photo during the opening ceremony.

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Dancers perform during the opening ceremony.

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Members of the audience wave flags during the opening ceremony.

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Athletes Brendan Kerry and Laura Peel carry the Australian flag during the parade of nations.

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Athletes from Canada walk into the stadium during the parade of nations.

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A shirtless Nathan Crumpton carries the flag of American Samoa into the stadium. He competes in skeleton.

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Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, makes a speech during the opening ceremony. Bach said the Olympics stood for a world with "no discrimination whatsoever," and he urged people to "give peace a chance."

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Carlos Maeder carries the flag of Ghana. Ghana is among the 19 teams that has only one athlete at these Olympics.

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Athletes Apostolos Angelis and Maria Ntanou carry the flag of Greece at the start of the parade of nations. The athletes walked into the stadium via a spectacular entrance that is described as representing the "Gate of China" and "Window of China."

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Performers entertain the audience before the official start of the show.

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The Chinese flag is raised inside the stadium at the beginning of the opening ceremony.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the opening ceremony. Earlier in the day he had bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

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The Chinese flag is carried into the stadium.

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People dressed as hockey players perform during the opening ceremony.

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Bing Dwen Dwen, one of the mascots of these Olympics, is seen with performers before the opening ceremony.

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Performers create a flower display with LED lights during the opening ceremony.

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People watch the fireworks light up the sky over the Beijing National Stadium, which is nicknamed the Bird's Nest.

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A man wears a face mask at the event. This is the second Olympics to be held during the coronavirus pandemic.

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Dancers perform in the pre-show ahead of the opening ceremony.

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People pose for pictures in front of a giant screen showing Chinese President Xi Jinping as the opening ceremony is broadcast in Beijing.

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Dancers participate in Friday's event.

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Security personnel stand guard inside the stadium.

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Performers dance during the pre-show.

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Announcers start the pre-show.

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Dancers perform in the stadium.

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Performers get ready for the pre-show.

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Spectators wait for the start of the ceremony. Tickets were not sold to the general public due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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People wait in a gangway ahead of the opening ceremony.

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A security guard walks through the stadium.

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Athletes inside a bus wave to residents on the street as they head to the stadium for the opening ceremony.

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People walk inside the stadium before the start of the opening ceremony.

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The Olympic rings are seen outside the Beijing National Stadium.

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