Talk:Winter Paralympics Opening Ceremony takes place in Sochi

Journalist notes
I attended this yesterday. (Live notes are much better documented on my Facebook page.) During the statement of values, they mentioned sexual orientation amongst other things that people should not discriminate against during the Games. Vladmir Putin was there, and the spotlight was on him on at least three different occasions. 45 nations participated in the parade of nations, with Australia first and Russia last. The United States entered after Slovenia. Ukraine sent one person, their flag bearer. There was no additional support personnel or anything. The crowd gave a big roar yesterday when the guy entered. Teams who participated included he United States, ARgentina, Slovenia, Slovakia, Russia, Kazakstan, Brazil, Armenia, Mexico, the Ukraine. Throughout the thing, there were no mentions tdirectly to the Crimea sitaution, and Craven thanked Vladmir Putin and several others by name during the ceremony. --LauraHale (talk)