2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony#Hacking of computer systems

The site of the opening ceremony, Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium, was built specifically for the Games. The pentagonal stadium seated 35,000. The organizers for the event said the shape was chosen because it is a combination of different traditional shapes - a circle, a square, and a triangle, which represent heaven, earth, and mankind.{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/olympics-2018-opening-ceremony-peace-motion-kick-off/story?id=52930433|title=Olympics 2018: Opening ceremony 'Peace in Motion' kicks off Pyeongchang Winter Games|website=ABC News}} No Olympic or Paralympic events were held at the stadium, which was only used for the opening and closing ceremonies. The venue was torn down afterwards.{{cite news|url=https://www.citylab.com/life/2018/02/its-time-for-the-pop-up-olympics/552896/|title=It's Time for the Pop-Up Olympics|last1=Eaton|first1=Joe|newspaper=Bloomberg |date=9 February 2018|publisher=CITYLAB|access-date=11 February 2018}}

The broadcast of the Opening Ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games was available in more than 200 countries around the world.{{cite web|url=http://2018winterolympicswiki.com/opening-ceremony-pyeongchang-2018-live-9-february-2018/917/|title=Pyeongchang 2018 Opening Ceremony LIVE on 9 February 2018|date=18 January 2018|access-date=8 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118124006/http://2018winterolympicswiki.com/opening-ceremony-pyeongchang-2018-live-9-february-2018/917/|archive-date=18 January 2018|url-status=usurped}}

The ceremony's message centered on peace, passion, harmony, and convergence.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetorch/2018/02/09/584368072/winter-olympics-opening-ceremony-pyeongchang-welcomes-the-world|title=Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony: Pyeongchang Welcomes The World|publisher=NPR|last1=Chappell|first1=Bill|date=9 February 2018|access-date=11 February 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/2018-winter-olympics-the-best-photos-from-the-opening-ceremony-2018-2|title=22 of the most incredible photos from the 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony|first=Alan|last=Dawson|website=Business Insider}}

Five children from rural Gangwon province led the ceremony, and were used to symbolize the five Olympic rings, with their names being chosen to represent fire, water, wood, metal, and earth, the five elements that are believed to make up the Earth.{{Cite web|url=https://olympics.com/en/news/pyeongchang-opening-ceremony-celebrates-culture|title=PyeongChang Opening Ceremony celebrates culture|website=Olympics.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/09/sports/olympics/opening-ceremony.html|title=Winter Olympics 2018 Opening Ceremony: Highlights and Analysis|first1=Andrew|last1=Keh|first2=Victor|last2=Mather|first3=Haeyoun|last3=Park|work=The New York Times |date=9 February 2018|via=NYTimes.com}}

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.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/story/olympics-opening-ceremony-drone-show/|title=Inside the Olympics Opening Ceremony World-Record Drone Show|magazine=WIRED|access-date=2018-02-09|language=en-US}}{{cite news|last1=Banks|first1=Paul M.|title=Winter Olympics Verify Mike Pence Hypocrisy on NFL National Anthem Protests|url=http://www.chicagonow.com/patriotic-dissenter/2018/02/winter-olympics-verify-mike-pence-hypocrisy-on-nfl-national-anthem-protests/|access-date=13 February 2018|work=ChicagoNow|date=9 February 2018}}

During the opening ceremony the organizing committee was a victim of a cyber attack, but without major consequences.{{cite news|last1=Meeks|first1=David|title=By not standing for Korea at the 2018 Winter Olympics, VP Mike Pence embarrassed America|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/winter-olympics-2018/2018/02/12/vice-president-mike-pence-north-korea-embarrassed-america/328254002/|access-date=13 February 2018|work=USA Today|date=12 February 2018}}

The ceremony began with a short film set in Incheon International Airport and across South Korea, depicting the posters of the previous editions of the Games. When the video arrived at the Sangwon Temple, the feed cut to a live shot of the stage, with a recreation of The Bell of Sangwon Temple standing in the centre. The countdown then took place around the bell.

File:The opening ceremony 2018 Winter Olympics 3.jpg

A video introducing the five children from rural Gangwon was shown. In the video, they are shown entering a cave, and are guided out by a white tiger, with the feed once again transitioning to a live shot of the five children with the tiger inside the stadium. As they crossed the stage, a depiction of the Baekdudaegan mountain range was projected onto it.{{Cite web |date=9 February 2018 |title=PyeongChang 2018 welcomes the world with a message of peace and hope |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/pyeongchang-2018-welcomes-the-world-with-a-message-of-peace-and-hope |access-date=5 March 2024 |website=Olympics}}

They were joined by performers handling puppets resembling the flora and fauna of Gangwon Province, as well as the four guardians - the white tiger, a blue dragon, a vermillion bird, and a black tortoise. As the segment progressed, an Inmyeonjo appeared on center stage representing peace.

The segment ended as an augmented reality constellation dome rose over the stage.

Moon Jae-in, President of the Republic of Korea, and Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee were introduced.

White light then illuminated the stadium as 371 janggu players performed on stage. They performed a janggu dance, and the segment culminated with the performers changing their costumes from white to red and blue, taking the form of the Taegeuk.

File:The opening ceremony 2018 Winter Olympics 2.jpg

With the formation of the Taegeuk on stage, the National Flag entered the stadium, carried by notable Korean athletes. As they carried the flag across the stadium, they were joined in the stadium by the Ministry of National Defense Traditional Honour Guard and Traditional Band, who performed daechwita, or traditional marching music, a form of chwita music.

The flag was then raised, with The Rainbow Choir, consisting of 75 children from multicultural families, performing the National Anthem.{{Cite web |last=Garcia |first=Maira |date=10 February 2018 |title=Who Were the Singers at the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/10/arts/music/winter-olympics-opening-ceremony-singers.html |access-date=2018-02-11 |work=The New York Times}}

{{main|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.

File:PyeongChang Olympic Opening Ceremony 14.jpg delegation entering the stadium]]

The delegations from both the host nation South Korea and North Korea (Korea at the 2018 Winter Olympics) marched under the Korean unification flag.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2018/feb/09/winter-olympics-2018-opening-ceremony-live |title=Winter Olympics 2018 opening ceremony – live!|date=9 February 2018|work=The Guardian|access-date=9 February 2018}} South Korean Won Yun-jong and North Korean Hwang Chung-gum both held the flagpole.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2018/02/09/winter-olympics-2018-opening-ceremony-review-pyeongchang-unites/|title=Winter Olympics 2018 opening ceremony review: Pyeongchang unites the world in a blizzard of emotion and effects|work=The Telegraph|date=9 February 2018 |access-date=11 February 2018|last1=Hogan |first1=Michael }}{{cite news|last1=Radnofsky|first1=Louise|last2=Cheng|first2=Jonathan|title=Pence Sat During Opening Ceremony. Some Koreans Took Offense.|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/pence-sat-during-opening-ceremony-some-koreans-took-offense-1518259101|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=10 February 2018}}

Despite the cold temperatures, 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 remixes of Korean songs from throughout the ages from "Short Hair" by Cho Yong-pil and "The Beauty" by Shin Jung Hyun & Yup Juns of the 1970s,{{cite news |url=https://www.sportsq.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=273288 |title='2018 평창 동계올림픽' 트와이스-싸이-레드벨벳 넘어 김완선-조용필까지 K팝으로 개막식 물들였다 |date=9 February 2018 |access-date=30 July 2021 }} as well as the following modern K-pop hits: "Gangnam Style" by Psy, "Likey" by Twice, "Fantastic Baby" by Big Bang, "DNA" by BTS, and "Red Flavor" by Red Velvet.{{cite magazine |last=Kaufman|first=Gil|date=6 December 2017|title=2018 Winter Olympics Kick Off With Korean Stars PSY & BTS During Opening Ceremonies|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8098906/winter-olympics-2018-opening-ceremony-psy-bts-skating-oasis-ed-sheeran|magazine=Billboard|access-date=9 February 2018}}

The segment began with an older man singing "Jeongseon Arirang" as the five children rode a raft across the stage. A storm descended, however the buckwheat flowers that were being projected onto the stage remained strong, evoking the "Miracle of the Han River" and representing the resilience of Koreans.

During the segment, an intruder entered the stage, standing behind the singer before being escorted away by security.{{Cite news |last=Bogage |first=Jacob |date=2021-11-27 |title=Fan invades Olympic Opening Ceremonies stage twice before being ejected |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2018/02/09/fan-invades-olympic-opening-ceremonies-stage-twice-before-being-ejected/ |access-date=2024-03-05 |work=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}

File:The opening ceremony 2018 Winter Olympics 1.jpg

A video depicting the dreams and futures of the five children opened the segment. Back in the stadium, performers handling "Gates to the Future" performed a choreography invoking South Korea's status as an IT powerhouse, as well as the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The segment culminated with the raising of the Media Link in the center of the stage, and the word "future" projected onto it in different languages.

Lee Hee-beom, President & CEO of the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games made an opening welcome speech to the athletes of the world in Korean. This was followed by Thomas Bach, IOC President who made an address as well.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2018/feb/09/winter-olympics-2018-opening-ceremony-live|title=Winter Olympics 2018 Opening Speeches|date=9 February 2018|website=The Guardian}} Bach then invited the President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-in to declare open the XXIII Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang in Korean.

{{blockquote|"제23회 동계올림픽대회인 평창 동계올림픽대휘의 개회를 선언합니다." - "I declare the opening of the XXIII Winter Olympic Games, the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games."|Moon Jae-in, President of the Republic of Korea}}{{Cite web|url=https://world.kbs.co.kr/special/pyeongchang2018/section/news/news_view.html?lang=e&seqCode=58786&newsCtg=pyeongchang_last|title=PyeongChang Delivers Peace under the Theme of "Passion, Connected"|date=26 February 2018|website=KBS World Radio}}

The five children were joined by families from across Gangwon Province, who one by one, lit each other's candles. During this, four Korean singers - 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 John Lennon's Imagine,{{cite news |last1=Hong |first1=C. |date=30 January 2018 |title=Ha Hyun Woo, Bolbbalgan4's Ahn Ji Young, And More To Perform at Olympics Opening Ceremony |url=https://www.soompi.com/2018/01/30/ha-hyun-woo-bolbbalgan4s-ahn-ji-young-perform-2018-pyeongchang-olympics-opening-ceremony/ |access-date=1 February 2018 |work=Soompi |publisher=Viki, Inc.}}{{Unreliable source?|reason=See unreliable sources list on WP:KO/RS|date=November 2024}} with the feed occasionally cutting to footage of street musicians from across the world having joined in the performance.

At the conclusion of the song, the five children released a dove shaped balloon, and the feed again transitioned to a prerecorded video. The video depicted snowboarders descending Alpensia, and the formation of the Olympic Rings by 1,218 drones,{{Cite web |title=Thousands of drones used for light show during Olympics opening ceremony |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/thousands-drones-light-show-olympics-opening-ceremony/story?id=52941985 |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=ABC News |language=en}} a world record at the time.{{Cite web |title=Intel® Drones at The Olympic Games |url=https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/sports/olympic-games/drones.html |website=intel®}}

The drones would later be used during the victory ceremonies, cultural performances, and the closing ceremony.{{Cite web |date=2018 |title=A Record-Breaking Show at PyeongChang 2018 |url=https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/technology-innovation/aerial-technology-light-show.html |website=intel®}}

File:2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic 001.jpg

Eight flagbearers consisting of Olympic medalists and young athletes brought the Olympic Flag into the stadium. The flag was then raised as Hwang Su-mi performed the Olympic Anthem.

The Olympic Oaths were then taken.

{{see also|2018 Winter Olympics torch relay}}

Following a short montage recapping the torch relay, the Olympic torch was carried into the stadium by Chun Lee-kyung, four time Olympic champion in short-track speed skating. She passed the torch to Park Inbee, Olympic champion in golf. She in turn passed it to Ahn Jung-hwan, a football player notable for representing South Korea at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He passed it to Jong Su-hyon from North Korea and Park Jong-ah from South Korea, both representing the unified Korean ice hockey team, who carried the torch and headed up stairs toward the cauldron.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/09/sports/olympics/opening-ceremony.html|title=Winter Olympics 2018 Opening Ceremony: Highlights and Analysis|last=Keh|first=Andrew|date=9 February 2018|website=PyeongChang 2018}}

File:2018 Winter Olympics Cauldron (1).jpeg

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 medal in 2014. The cauldron was designed to represent a full moon when it is not lit. Kim received the torch and lit the cauldron.

The final segment featured Korean dance group Just Jerk{{Cite web |url=https://www.pyeongchang2018.com/en/news/behind-the-scenes-of-the-pyeongchang-2018-opening-ceremony |title=Behind the Scenes of the PyeongChang 2018 Opening Ceremony |access-date=12 February 2018 |archive-date=13 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213021700/https://www.pyeongchang2018.com/en/news/behind-the-scenes-of-the-pyeongchang-2018-opening-ceremony |url-status=dead }} (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 {{convert|1300|m|ft}}.

On 24 February, The Washington Post reported that U.S. intelligence uncovered Russian spies hacked computers during the Opening Ceremony. Analysts believed the Russians instigated the 9 February attack as a way to retaliate for the International Olympic Committee's decision to restrict the participation of Russian athletes in the 2018 Winter Olympics as punishment for doping violations.[https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/winter-olympics-2018/2018/02/25/winter-olympics-russian-spies-hacked-opening-ceremony-report/371051002/ Report: Russian spies behind Winter Olympics cyber attack]. US Today. Retrieved 26 February 2018.[https://www.cnet.com/news/russian-spies-reportedly-hacked-winter-olympics-2018-washington-post/ Russian spies reportedly hacked Winter Olympics]. CNET. Retrieved 26 February 2018.

Sandworm, a Russian cybermilitary unit of the GRU, is believed to be responsible for the attack. The worm used is known as "Olympic Destroyer". It targeted all Olympic IT infrastructure, and succeeded in taking down WiFi, feeds to jumbotrons, ticketing systems, and other Olympic systems. It was timed to go off at the start of the opening ceremonies. It was unique in that the hackers attempted to use many false signatures to blame other countries such as North Korea and China.{{Cite magazine|title=Inside Olympic Destroyer, the Most Deceptive Hack in History|language=en-us|magazine=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/story/untold-story-2018-olympics-destroyer-cyberattack/|access-date=2020-08-26|issn=1059-1028}}

File:Vice President Pence's Trip to Asia (28394490479).jpg, Vice President of the United States with Moon Jae-in of South Korea, Thomas Bach of the IOC and Kim Yo Jong of North Korea]]

About 25 heads of state attended the ceremony, in addition to the UN Secretary General. President of Russia Vladimir Putin was invited to attend, but declined due to the symbolic ban on Russia by the IOC.

• {{flagicon|United Nations}} United Nations –
• Secretary-General António Guterres{{cite news|title=9 February 2018, Buckingham Palace|url=https://www.royal.uk/court-circular?text=&mrf=5&date%5Bmin%5D%5Bdate%5D=08%2F02%2F2018&date%5Bmax%5D%5Bdate%5D=09%2F02%2F2018&id=|access-date=21 February 2018|agency=Court Circular|date=9 February 2018|language=en|quote=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.}}
• Former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon{{cite news|title=2018 평창동계올림픽 찾은 반기문 전 유엔 사무총장|url=https://www.edaily.co.kr/news/read?newsId=01994246619109208&mediaCodeNo=260|access-date=24 July 2021|work={{ill|Edaily|ko|이데일리}}|language=ko|date=10 February 2018|first=In-gwon|last=Bang}}
• {{flagicon|Vatican City}} Vatican City –
• Under-secretary of Pontifical Council for Culture Melchor Sanchez de Toca{{cite news|title=Vatican delegation invited to Pyeongchang Winter Olympics|url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2018-02/vatican-delegation-invited-to-pyeongchang-winter-olympics-.html|access-date=24 July 2021|work=Vatican News|date=2 February 2018|first=Lydia|last=O'Kane}}
• {{flagicon|IOC}} International Olympic Committee –
• IOC President Thomas Bach and wife Claudia Bach
• IOC Members

• {{flagicon|South Korea}} South Korea –
• President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-in{{cite news|title=Lío de protocolo ante la inauguración de los juegos de invierno de Pyeongchang|url=http://www.lavanguardia.com/internacional/20180209/44637116639/juegos-olimpicos-de-invierno-2018.html|access-date=10 February 2018|agency=La Vanguardia|language=es}}
• First Lady of the Republic of Korea Kim Jung-sook
• President & CEO of the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games Lee Hee-beom
• Former President Lee Myung-bak{{cite news|script-title=ko:이명박 전 대통령, 평창올림픽 개막식·리셉션 참석…황교안과 나란히

|url=https://www.seoul.co.kr/news/newsView.php?id=20180210500003|access-date=24 July 2021|language=ko|work=Seoul Shinmun|date=10 February 2018|first=Yoo-min|last=Kim}}

• {{flagicon|Canada}} Canada –
• Governor General Julie Payette{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/governor-general-payette-south-korea-olympics-1.4507777|title=Gov. Gen. Julie Payette to attend opening of winter Olympics|date=28 January 2018|work=CBC News}}
• {{flagicon|China}} China –
• Politburo standing member and Vice Premier Han Zheng{{cite web|url=http://www.bta.bg/en/gallery/image/4683766|title=SOUTH KOREA-CHINA-HAN ZHENG-WINTER OLYMPICS-OPENING CEREMONY|date=9 February 2018|access-date=10 February 2018}}
• {{flagicon|Colombia}} Colombia –
• Vice President Óscar Naranjo{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2018/feb/09/winter-olympics-2018-opening-ceremony-live|title=Winter Olympics opening ceremony: Koreans enter under unified flag – as it happened|work=The Guardian|date=9 February 2018 |access-date=11 February 2018|last1=Graham |first1=Bryan Armen }}
• {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} Czech Republic –
• President of the Senate Milan Stech{{cite web|url= https://mzv.gov.cz/file/3613945/Czech_diplomacy_2018_final_6_6.pdf|title= Czech Republic Diplomacy in 2018}}
• {{flagicon|Denmark}} Denmark –
• Crown Prince Frederik (representing the Queen of Denmark)
• {{flagicon|Estonia}} Estonia –
• President Kersti Kaljulaid{{cite news|title=Korea-Estonia summit to help launch peace through Olympics|url=http://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/policies/view?articleId=153762|access-date=10 February 2018|agency=Korea.net|date=7 February 2018|quote=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.}}
• {{flagicon|Finland}} Finland –
• Prime Minister Juha Sipilä
• {{flagicon|France}} France –
• President Emmanuel Macron
• Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian{{cite web|url=http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/politics/diplomacy/825180.html|script-title=ko:평창 오는 외국정상 벌써 15명…'올림픽 외교' 꽃피운다|date=26 December 2017|access-date=8 February 2018}}
• Minister of Sports Laura Flessel
• {{flagicon|Germany}} Germany –
• President Frank-Walter Steinmeier{{cite news|title=Presidente de Alemania apoya diálogo entre Coreas|url=http://www.dw.com/es/presidente-de-alemania-apoya-di%C3%A1logo-entre-coreas/a-42531385|access-date=10 February 2018|agency=Deutsche Welle|language=es}}
• {{flagicon|Italy}} Italy –
• Sports Minister of Italy Luca Lotti{{cite news|author=Daniela Cotto|title=Il ministro Lotti a Casa Italia, l'incontro con Lindsey Vonn|url=http://www.lastampa.it/2018/02/09/sport/speciali/olimpiadi-pyeongchang-2018/il-ministro-lotti-a-casa-italia-lincontro-con-lindsey-vonn-AqQhOx28jG9DmCvFllo2zL/pagina.html|access-date=10 February 2018|agency=La Stampa|date=9 February 2018|language=it|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210153105/http://www.lastampa.it/2018/02/09/sport/speciali/olimpiadi-pyeongchang-2018/il-ministro-lotti-a-casa-italia-lincontro-con-lindsey-vonn-AqQhOx28jG9DmCvFllo2zL/pagina.html|archive-date=10 February 2018|url-status=dead}}
• {{flagicon|Japan}} Japan –
• Prime Minister Shinzo Abe{{cite news|title=Mandatarios de Japón y Corea del Sur acuerdan continuar ejerciendo presión sobre Corea del Norte|url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/es/news/58224/|access-date=10 February 2018|agency=NHK World|language=es|quote=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.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211072236/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/es/news/58224/|archive-date=11 February 2018|url-status=dead}}
• {{flagicon|Kosovo}} Kosovo –
• President Hashim Thaçi{{cite news|author1=Alan Crosby|title=Winter Olympics Debut A 10th-Anniversary Gift For Kosovo|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/kosovo-winter-olympics-debut-10th-anniversary-independence-gift/29032362.html|access-date=10 February 2018|agency=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=10 February 2018|quote=Hashim Thaci, president of Kosovo, said on February 5 during a ceremony presenting the official Kosovar flag to Tahiri.}}
• {{flagicon|Latvia}} Latvia –
• President Andris Berzins
• {{flagicon|Lithuania}} Lithuania –
• President Dalia Grybauskaitė{{cite news|title=The President attends the opening ceremony of Winter Olympics|url=https://www.lrp.lt/en/press-centre/press-releases/the-president-attends-the-opening-ceremony-of-winter-olympics/29355|access-date=10 February 2018|agency=President of the Republic of Lithuania|date=9 February 2018}}
• {{flagicon|Luxembourg}} Luxembourg –
• Grand Duke Henri{{cite news|title=Grand Duke Henri to Attend Winter Olympics|url=http://www.chronicle.lu/category/luxembourg/grand-duke-henri-to-attend-winter-olympics|access-date=10 February 2018|agency=Chronicle.lu}}
• {{flagicon|Malaysia}} Malaysia –
• Prime Minister Najib Razak
• {{flagicon|Monaco}} Monaco –
• Prince Albert II{{cite web|title=Prince Albert II of Monaco (C) reacts as he visits the House of Switzerland during the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games, South Korea|url=http://www.epa.eu/sports-photos/alpine-skiing-photos/pyeongchang-2018-olympic-games-photos-54101554|website=european pressphoto agency|access-date=10 February 2018}}{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Netherlands –
• King Willem Alexander
• Queen Máxima
• Prime Minister Mark Rutte{{Cite web|url=https://nos.nl/l/2215477|title=Koningspaar en premier Rutte bij openingsceremonie Pyeongchang|website=nos.nl|date=5 February 2018 }}
• {{flagicon|Norway}} Norway –
• Prime Minister Erna Solberg
• {{flagicon|North Korea}} North Korea –
• President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly Kim Yong-nam
• Vice Director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department of the Workers' Party of Korea Kim Yo Jong{{Cite web | title = At Olympic Games, Kim Jong Un's sister takes VIP seat | last = Talmadge | first = Eric | agency = AP | work = ABC News | date = 9 February 2018 | access-date = 2018-02-09 | url = https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/korea-delegation-led-kims-sister-arrives-olympics-52951272 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180209184355/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/korea-delegation-led-kims-sister-arrives-olympics-52951272 | archive-date = 9 February 2018 | url-status = dead}}
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Poland –
• President Andrzej Duda{{cite web|url=https://www.tvn24.pl/wiadomosci-z-kraju,3/wizyta-andrzeja-dudy-w-seulu-i-spotkanie-z-wiceprezydentem-usa,813345.html|title=Szczerski o rozmowie Dudy z wiceprezydentem USA: od razu wiadomo, że się odbędzie|access-date=8 February 2018}}
• {{flagicon|Serbia}} Serbia –
• Minister of Youth and Sports Vanja Udovičić{{Cite web|url=http://www.zurnal.rs/miks/zimski-sportovi/59723/zimske-olimpijske-igre-svecano-otvorene-u-pjoncangu|title=Зимске олимпијске игре свечано отворене у Пјончангу|website=СПОРТСКИ ЖУРНАЛ}}
• {{flagicon|Slovakia}} Slovakia –
• President Andrej Kiska{{cite web|url=http://sports.news.naver.com/sports_general/news/read.nhn?oid=020&aid=0003119902&redirect=false|script-title=ko:33개국 정상급 45명 참석 밝혀… 靑 경호처가 근접 보호|access-date=8 February 2018}}
• {{flagicon|Slovenia}} Slovenia –
• President Borut Pahor
• {{flagicon|Sweden}} Sweden –
• King Carl XVI Gustaf
• Queen Silvia
• {{flagicon|Switzerland}} Switzerland –
• President Alain Berset{{cite news|title=JO 2018: Alain Berset à Pyeongchang pour affirmer la présence de la Suisse|url=https://www.lacote.ch/dossiers/jeux-olympiques-d-hiver-de-pyeongchang-2018/articles/jo-2018-alain-berset-a-pyeongchang-pour-affirmer-la-presence-de-la-suisse-735478|access-date=10 February 2018|agency=La Côte|date=10 February 2018|language=fr}}
• {{flagicon|UK}} Great Britain –
• Princess Royal Anne{{cite news|title=Guterres se reunió con el líder norcoreano Kim Yong-nam|url=http://www.dw.com/es/guterres-se-reuni%C3%B3-con-el-l%C3%ADder-norcoreano-kim-yong-nam/a-42526700|access-date=10 February 2018|agency=Deutsche Welle|date=10 February 2018|language=es|quote=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.}}
• {{flagicon|United States}} United States –
• Vice President Mike Pence
• Second Lady Karen Pence{{cite web|url=http://www.edaily.co.kr/news/news_detail.asp?newsId=03821206619076408&mediaCodeNo=257&OutLnkChk=Y|title=美펜스, 올림픽대표단 끌고 평창行..이방카 참석은 '미정'|date=10 January 2018|access-date=8 February 2018|archive-date=10 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110234256/http://www.edaily.co.kr/news/news_detail.asp?newsId=03821206619076408&mediaCodeNo=257&OutLnkChk=Y|url-status=dead}}

File:Kim Yo-jong.jpg

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.{{Cite web | title = US vice-president skips Olympics dinner in snub to North Korea officials | last = Haas | first = Benjamin | work = The Guardian| date = 9 February 2018 | access-date = 2018-02-09 | url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/09/kim-jong-uns-sister-arrives-in-south-korea-for-winter-olympics }} Kim Yo Jong shook hands with South Korean president Moon Jae-in before sitting down to watch the ceremony together.

• {{flagdeco|KOR}} Rainbow Children's Choir – National Anthem of South Korea
• {{flagdeco|IOC}} Sumi Hwang – Olympic Anthem

• Artistic Director: Yang Jung-woong
• Executive Director, creative: Song Seung-whan{{cite news|title=Olympics-Pyeongchang picks 'Nanta' producer for 2018 ceremonies|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/olympics-pyeongchang-ceremonies/olympics-pyeongchang-picks-nanta-producer-for-2018-ceremonies-idUSL3N0ZI1P120150702|access-date=1 February 2018|work=Reuters|date=2 July 2015|location=Seoul, South Korea}}
• Executive Director, cinematography: Lim Tae-hong, Andrew

{{Reflist}}

• {{Commons category-inline}}
• [https://library.olympic.org/Default/doc/SYRACUSE/172884/pyeongchang-2018-olympic-winter-games-opening-ceremony-media-guide-the-pyeongchang-organizing-commit?_lg=en-GB Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony Media Guide (as found on Olympic Library)]
• [https://stillmed.olympic.org/media/Document%20Library/OlympicOrg/News/2018/02/opening-ceremony/President-speech-PyeongChang-2018-Opening-Ceremony.pdf#_ga=2.116249606.1670936625.1546721863-1292983301.1545348118 Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee's speech]
• {{YouTube|u7eiNnw6Kwc|PyeongChang 2018 Opening Ceremony}}

{{Olympic Games ceremonies}}

{{Portal bar|Olympics|South Korea}}

Opening Ceremony

Category:Ceremonies in South Korea

Category:Olympics opening ceremonies