A glittering opening ceremony has been held yesterday in Sochi with dance, music, fireworks and a journey through Russia’s history to delight the 40,000 people present.

Millions more watched on television and via the Internet as the 22nd Winter Games got underway at the state-of-the-art Fisht Stadium, reports GHN according to BBC.

In a moving sequence the lights were lowered as performers, dressed in white to symbolize peace, danced to the strains of Tchaikovsky.

In a break from Olympic tradition, the teams had earlier entered in the order of the Russian alphabet, with the host nation coming in last to deafening cheers.

Athletes from the competing nations appeared to emerge from their country's map courtesy of a dazzling light show.

There was a minor glitch early on when one of five giant snowflakes failed to open up to form an Olympic ring, leaving the Games' symbol incomplete.

However, the ceremony director Konstantin Ernst played down the incident, pointing out: "No normal person would get distracted by one snowflake that did not open from the story that is being told over two and-a-half hours."

Between now and February 23, the competition for gold, silver and bronze medals will dominate the world’s sporting agenda.

Four Georgian sportsmen will be taking part in the tournament.