MANILA, Philippines - Spectators in Sochi and billions watching from their homes were treated to a lavish spectacle as Russia put together its world-class talents to inaugurate the biggest sporting event of the year – the 22nd Winter Olympic Games – which opened with pomp and splendor at 8:14 p.m. local time (4 a.m. today in Manila) at the gigantic Fisht Stadium in Sochi, Russia.
Some 2,860 athletes marched with pride and honor in the dead of winter behind the colors of their nations, one of them a 17-year-old Filipino hoping to make a name for his tropical country in the “white games†of the Americas and Europe.
Flaunting the Philippine flag after the country’s 22-year absence from the Winter Games was Michael Christian Martinez, the first-ever Filipino figure skater to qualify for the Olympics.
Other athletes with Filipino ties in the Sochi Games are Gilmore Junio (long-track speed skater) playing for Canada and JR Celski (short-track speed skater) competing for the US.
Apart from the Philippines, only two other nations from Southeast Asia landed spots in the Games – Thailand, represented by violinist Vanessa Mae at the giant slalom event, and Timor-Leste, formerly a part of Indonesia. Skier Yohan Goutt Goncalves, born of a French father and East Timorese mother, made history by introducing the Timor-Leste flag to the Games.
Other countries joining the Winter Olympics for the first time and with only a single athlete competing include Malta, Tonga, Paraguay and Zimbabwe.
Three athletes from India were represented but marched under the Olympic flag as their country’s Olympic committee is still under suspension by the IOC.
Martinez is set to compete on Feb. 7 in the men’s figure skating short program. Twelve new events in eight sports disciplines will debut in the Sochi Games, bringing the total medal events to a record 98. – With report from Cheri Mapa