Sochi 2014: day one of the Winter Olympics – in pictures

After all the pomp and fanfare of the Opening Ceremony last night, the Olympic flame was burning brightly as the sun rose over Sochi on day one. Forget the slight mechanical failure of the rings, day one of the Games has more than compensated for it ... Photograph: Morry Gash/AP

Men's snowboard slopestyle kicked off the day's proceedings. Britain's Billy Morgan landed his first triple backside 1440 in competition on his way to the final Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Team-mate Jamie Nicholls fared better, landing his first triple backside 1440 in competition and helping him score the highest of the day so far, only to be overtaken later. He finished sixth, extremely happy with his placing Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

The first gold medal of the Games went to American Sage Kotsenburg with a score of 93.50 Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The non-traditional nature of the snowboard slopestyle event is reflected by a non-traditional podium – both in haircuts and in attitude. Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

In women's ice hockey, the US team dominated Finland to win their first match 3-1 Photograph: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images

Canada saw off Switzerland and finished the game with an emphatic 5-0 victory Photograph: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Women's skiathlon gets under way. (Right to left) Marit Bjoergen, Therese Johaug and Heidi Weng of Norway, Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland and Kerttu Niskanen of Finland lead the competitors out at the mass start for the 7.5km classic and 7.5km free Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Winner, Norway's Marit Bjoergen (far left), and Sweden's Charlotte Kalla, Norway's Therese Johaug, Norway's Heidi Weng and Finland's Aino-Kaisa Saarinen collapse at the finish line Photograph: Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images

The Netherlands' Sven Kramer on his way to a gold medal in the 5,000m speed skating event, with a new Olympic record time Photograph: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Figure skating plays a large part in the day's proceedings with three events: team ice dance short dance, team ladies' short programme and team paris free skating. Photograph: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Huang Xintong and Zheng Xun of China performing in the Ice Dance Short Programme of the Figure Skating team event, as seen in this multiple exposure photo Photograph: Tatyana Zenkovich/EPA

The home team celebrate as Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov of Russia win 10 points for the team competition with a combined score of 135.09 Photograph: Pool/Getty Images

Laura Grasemann of Germany gets upside down during qualifying for the ladies' moguls. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The snow sprays up as Italian Deborah Scanzio's legs jar with the impact of the moguls. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The floodlights illuminate the action at the women's freestyle moguls. Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Canada's Justine Dufour-Lapointe plays ski-guitar after finishing her run on the freestyle moguls. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters

Gold medal winner, Norway's Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, doubles over with exertion on the finishline of the mens' 10km sprint biathlon. Photograph: Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images

The sun sets on the biathlon, but the action continues on into the night at Sochi. Photograph: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

Reinhard Egger takes his run as the luge men's singles commences at the sliding centre. Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Armin Zoeggeler of Italy waves to the crowd before starting his run. Photograph: Dita Alangkara/AP

Te-An Lien of Chinese Taipei tries to hold it together as the luge slips away from under him. Photograph: Adam Pretty/Getty Images

After the men's single luge competition wraps up for the day, the lights remain on at the Sanki sliding centre. Photograph: Charlie Riedel/AP

Peter Prevc of Slovenia soars through the air during his trial jump before qualification starts for the normal hill men's ski jumping Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

Qualifying begins, and Anssi Koivuranta of Finland jumps under the floodlights. Photograph: Al Bello/Getty Images