The mountain cluster in Rosa Khutor woke up on February 8 to the first day of competition which followed a grandiose opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. A colourful show before 40,000 spectators at the gleaming new Fisht Stadium signaled the start of full sporting competition. The opening ceremony was watched by President Vladimir Putin, who will be keen to calm fears of militant attacks and move on from a row over gay rights that has marred the buildup to the Games.
