The 23rd Olympic Winter Games officially kicked off at Pyeongchang in South Korea today. Although competition for the 2018 Winter Olympics began Thursday, the much-anticipated opening ceremony started today at the Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium.Hosts South Korea produced a show of unity with neighbours North Korea during the opening ceremony. Their athletes entered under the same flag during the parade, after months of tension in the Korean peninsula. An estimated 35,000 spectators inside the Olympic Stadium were given seat warmers, wind shields, hats and gloves with temperatures as low as -6 degree Celsius during the two hour-long ceremony. There will be 102 medals up for grabs in Pyeongchang, covering seven sports and 15 disciplines.Russia is banned from the Games, and the forthcoming Paralympics. However, the International Olympic Committee invited 169 Russians who have met the anti-doping criteria to compete as independent athletes and their team will be known as the 'Olympic Athletes from Russia'.