2014 Winter Olympics Tracker: Live coverage from Sochi, Russia

This liveblog will feature updates, news and pictures from events happening in Sochi, Russia as they happen. The focus of the tracker is on major events, news and American teams.24/7 coverage will include: - Opening Ceremonies live coverage (Friday, 2/7) from two Digital First Media sports writers who are at Sochi right now. (Mark Purdy of the San Jose Mercury News and Kurt Kragthorpe of the Salt Lake Tribune)- Original reporting from Sochi: We have a team of 11 credentialed reporters, columnists and photographers from the Denver Post, San Jose Mercury News, Salt Lake Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer Press at Sochi. They will be filing in-depth coverage and real-time updates via Twitter. - What's important today: Our tracker team in New York City will highlight the major events, updates, teams and athletes that we are tracking each day during the Olympics. - Social media buzz: A curation of social media, pictures and videos from Olympic athletes, media correspondents and fans watching around the world. - Live coverage of the closing ceremony on Feb 23.

3rd & 7 37yd

Bach invites Putin to open games

by Steve Wilson via twitter 2/7/2014 6:29:09 PM
Dancing is beautiful, but like cotton candy, it has its limits.

by Cathal Kelly via Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremonies coverage 2/7/2014 6:29:29 PM
Doves of peace at Sochi ceremony http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bf5DtdXIAAA1H0m.jpg

by Steve Wilson via twitter 2/7/2014 6:30:16 PM
Now, we've got spinning, twirling black-light mushrooms. Okay, @markkiszla , you're winning me over. The pageantry may have jumped the shark

by MercPurdy via twitter 2/7/2014 6:30:24 PM
Not only did the Netherlands prove orange is the new black (thanks, Kevin), but they also created a formal uniform that wouldn't look out of place in a J.Crew catalogue (complete with tartan and bow ties).

by Emma Yardley via Cdn.styleblazer 2/7/2014 6:32:09 PM
We are very close to the torch lighter here. Very low odds he/she arrives in a pick-up truck. Grain thresher?

by Cathal Kelly via Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremonies coverage 2/7/2014 6:32:14 PM
After "Swan Lake" performance, here comes the Olympic Flag. All five rings appear to be in good condition.

by Vinay Menon via Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremonies coverage 2/7/2014 6:32:57 PM
Olympic flag, designed 100 years ago, enters stadium. (BBC)

by Gary Kicinski via Digital First Media 2/7/2014 6:33:05 PM
A rendition of Swam Lake, one of the most famous pieces composed by Tchaikovsky. Who, Twitterers point out, was gay. Although the previous Soviet era ignored that.

by Lesley Ciarula Taylor via Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremonies coverage 2/7/2014 6:33:09 PM
Among those bringing in the Olympic flag - a cosmonaut, a TV reporter, a hockey player, a filmmaker and a ... cyber-sportsman.

by Cathal Kelly via Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremonies coverage 2/7/2014 6:33:45 PM
from: Shannon Szabados @ShannonSzabados (Women's hockey)

Opening ceremonies are a bit of a mystery to me every year, not quite sure whats going on but its still awesome to watch lol

by Kevin McGran 2/7/2014 6:35:16 PM
Stunning tableau to music from Swan Lake http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bf5EVveIgAAiDD5.jpg

by Philip Hersh via twitter 2/7/2014 6:35:20 PM
Fashion fact: In a swell of national pride, H&M designed and produced Sweden's team uniforms. I'm sure you'll be able to find similar styles at your local H&M within 3-6 weeks.

by Emma Yardley via Blu.stb.s-msn 2/7/2014 6:35:51 PM
IOC president Thomas Bach said Games should "set an example for a peaceful society ... with no discrimination"

by Kurt Kragthorpe via twitter 2/7/2014 6:36:02 PM
This Opening Ceremonies represents the largest concentration of white suits in human history. Somewhere in Sochi, there is a laundress having a breakdown.

by Cathal Kelly edited by Lesley Ciarula Taylor 2/7/2014 6:36:30 PM
Oh, now that's a dress! Or a sculpture. Or both!

by Emma Yardley via Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremonies coverage 2/7/2014 6:36:54 PM
Never quite sure why the Olympics has its own anthem. It's not a country.

by Kevin McGran via Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremonies coverage 2/7/2014 6:36:54 PM
The doves were way cool.

by Richard Lautens via Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremonies coverage 2/7/2014 6:37:54 PM
Anna Netrebko, one of the world's great sopranos, is definitely not lip-syncing the Russian national anthem.

by Lesley Ciarula Taylor 2/7/2014 6:38:09 PM
Anna Netrebko #Sochi2014 instagram.com/p/kIAullR6cV/

by Heike Matthiesen via twitter 2/7/2014 6:38:28 PM
Flag-raising ceremony (BBC)

by Gary Kicinski via Digital First Media 2/7/2014 6:39:11 PM
It's hard to imagine any 2.5 hour spectacular these days that includes no contemporary music. But I didn't hear anything in the Ceremonies-proper tonight that was less than 50 years old.

by Cathal Kelly via Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremonies coverage 2/7/2014 6:39:38 PM
Soprano Anna Netrebko just brought it. Or whatever the equivalent opera phrase might be.

by Vinay Menon via Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremonies coverage 2/7/2014 6:40:02 PM
Hundreds crowd #Olympic Park for lighting of torch #sochi2014 #OpeningCeremony http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bf5GaAwIMAE5F6y.jpg

by Jason Blevins via twitter 2/7/2014 6:40:30 PM
Russian short-track speedskater Vyacheslav Vedenin takes Olympic oath on behalf of all athletes (BBC)

by Gary Kicinski 2/7/2014 6:41:30 PM
Despite the disastrous cardigan, the U.S. team did win in one fashion discipline: boots. They make we want to climb the Appalachians...or the stairs, down to the cafeteria for a much needed cup of coffee.

by Emma Yardley via I.dailymail.co.uk 2/7/2014 6:42:08 PM
Vinay, may she "killed it"? There's always a lot of death in opera. And she did. Beyoncé couldn't have done any better.

by Emma Yardley via Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremonies coverage 2/7/2014 6:43:11 PM
My music streak is about to end. This final segment before the torch lighting features a Daft Punk remix.

by Cathal Kelly via Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremonies coverage 2/7/2014 6:43:23 PM
Massive lit-up figures represent Olympic Gods. Lotso, lotso hockey.

by Cathal Kelly via Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremonies coverage 2/7/2014 6:44:35 PM
A look at Mike Smith's goalie mask for #Sochi , created by @darrigoart . #Olympics http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bf4So68CEAAiFim.jpg

by Megan Robinson via twitter 2/7/2014 6:45:21 PM
"The Game Has Changed" remix by Daft Punk to follow this segment featuring robot speed skaters. When the machines become sentient and enslave humanity, it will start exactly like this.

by Vinay Menon via Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremonies coverage 2/7/2014 6:45:47 PM
Emma, what do you think of Team Canada goalie Mike Smith's mask?

by Kevin McGran via Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremonies coverage 2/7/2014 6:45:51 PM
If you'd had any chemical refreshment before this started, you'd be in the midst of the most intensely weird morning/afternoon of your life.

by Cathal Kelly via Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremonies coverage 2/7/2014 6:46:03 PM
Kevin, it's terrifying. Which I suppose is the point. So, I like it!

by Emma Yardley via Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremonies coverage 2/7/2014 6:46:43 PM
Lighted guys on roller blades (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star)

by Richard Lautens via Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremonies coverage 2/7/2014 6:48:44 PM
This was kinda cool: Winter Olympic athlete figures as if they were constellations of stars. (BBC)

by Gary Kicinski via Digital First Media 2/7/2014 6:48:52 PM
That was odd. At a Games so concerned about terrorism, a giant rifle-toting athlete just shot fireworks out of the end of the "rifle."

by MercPurdy via twitter 2/7/2014 6:49:21 PM
And now, the Olympic flame... who will carry it?

by Gary Kicinski via Digital First Media 2/7/2014 6:49:28 PM
Sharapova carries torch. Summer olympian (tennis, Silver.)

by Kevin McGran edited by Lesley Ciarula Taylor 2/7/2014 6:49:40 PM
I had a one-on-one interview with her once. She was a fantastic talker. Quite a presence in person.

by Kevin McGran via Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremonies coverage 2/7/2014 6:50:24 PM
Maria Sharapova brings the torch into the stadium ...

by Gary Kicinski via Digital First Media 2/7/2014 6:50:28 PM
Alexander Karelin. The wrestler who was so huge and powerful, an opponent once suggested that his parents had been matched to create a genetically optimal athlete.

by Cathal Kelly via Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremonies coverage 2/7/2014 6:50:52 PM
Sharapova and her flowing hair, I mean, fiery Olympic torch.

by Emma Yardley edited by Lesley Ciarula Taylor 2/7/2014 6:51:01 PM
Okay, torch time. Maria Sharapova brings it into stadium but she's not going to be final carrier. And yes, there's Alexander Karelin and .

by MercPurdy via twitter 2/7/2014 6:51:04 PM
...hands off to pole vaulting great Yelena Isinbayeva

by Gary Kicinski via Digital First Media 2/7/2014 6:51:04 PM