Russia's Sochi Prepares for Olympics Opening Ceremony

The 2014 Winter Olympics will officially open in Sochi on Friday, with organizers hoping the ceremony will get the criticism-beleaguered event off to a flying start.

Millions of dollars have been spent on the ceremony orchestrated by Konstantin Ernst, the director of Russia’s Channel One, and participants have been sworn to secrecy.

The ceremony begins at 20:14 local time (18:14 EET). RIA Novosti reports that it would feature a run-through of Russian history.

Sochi, on Russia's Black Sea coast, will welcome about 2,900 athletes in 15 disciplines.

The build-up to the most expensive Olympic Games in history has been overshadowed by security fears, human rights concerns and delays to preparations.

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