The Beijing 2022 Olympic Games logo is pictured ahead of the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games at the National Stadium on February 4, 2022 in Beijing, China (Photo by Douwe Bijlsma/BSR Agency/Getty Images) Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic mascot Bing Dwen Dwen is seen during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images) A general view during the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games. (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images) Flag bearers Tingyu Gao and Dan Zhao of Team China carry their flag during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at the Beijing National Stadium. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) The delegation from the United States takes part in the parade of athletes during the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, at the National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, in Beijing, on February 4, 2022. (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images) Flag bearers Brittany Bowe and John Shuster of Team United States lead the team during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) Members of the delegation from the United States pose for photos as they take part in the parade of athletes during the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games. (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images) Xi Jinping, President of China is seen waving on the big screen as dancers perform during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images) Performers prepare ahead of the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, at the National Stadium. (Photo by JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images) Performers prepare for the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, at the National Stadium. (Photo by MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP via Getty Images) The flag of the People's Republic of China is raised during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images) Performers dressed as hockey players perform during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images) The flag of the People's Republic of China is raised during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) Performers create a flower display with LED lights during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) Performers create a flower display with LED lights during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) Performers hold up snowflakes with the names of participating countries during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images) General View inside the stadium as performers hold up snowflakes with the names of participating countries on during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) Performers dressed as hockey players perform during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Performers during the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at National Stadium in Beijing, China. (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images) Torch bearers carry the Olympic flame during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images) The Olympic Cauldron during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at the Beijing National Stadium on February 04, 2022 in Beijing, China. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) BEIJING - The Olympic flame has officially arrived at the Beijing Games. An opening ceremony on a frosty night had a fiery conclusion Friday, when the flame was placed inside a giant snowflake to give China’s first Winter Olympics the symbolic opening — followed by the third major fireworks show of the night.
The snowflake was composed of placards used to introduce the athletes from the 91 different nations that will compete in China through Feb. 20. There was no cauldron to light, the traditional ending to most opening ceremonies.
Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier declared the Games open during an opening ceremony heavy on ice-blue tones and winter imagery that was held in the same lattice-encased National Stadium that hosted the inaugural event at the 2008 Olympics.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.