A crowning achievement for Russia kicked off with a celebration of its past greatness and hopes for future glory.

The opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympic Games was a celebration of Russia and presented Putin's version: a country with a rich and complex history emerging confidently from a rocky two decades and now capable of putting on a major international sports event.

During the ceremony, Russian TV star Yana Churikova shouted to a crowd still taking their seats: “Welcome to the center of the universe!”. For the next two weeks, it certainly is for the 3,000 athletes who will compete in 98 events, more people and contests than ever at the Winter Games.

It will be, too, for all those worried the games will be a target for terrorism.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and dozens of other world leaders were also present in Sochi for the ceremony.