Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 begin with grand opening ceremony - in pictures

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed in Beijing to attend the Winter Games on Friday

Performers create a flower display with LED lights during the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at the Beijing National Stadium on Friday, February 04, 2022. Getty

Performers during the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. AFP

China's President Xi Jinping, centre, and his wife Peng Liyuan, right, greet other attendees during the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. AFP

An overview of the National Stadium during the opening ceremony. AFP

Russia President Vladimir Putin arrives for the opening ceremony. Getty

Dancers perform during the opening ceremony on Friday. EPA

Performers create a flower display with LED lights during the opening ceremony. Getty

Dancers perform during the pre-show ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

View inside the stadium as performers dance during the opening ceremony. Getty

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan at the opening ceremony. Getty

Performer’s dance during the opening ceremony. Getty

Performers during the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at the National Stadium on Friday, February 4, 2022. AFP

Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games. AFP

Firework display during the Opening Ceremony at the Beijing National Stadium. Getty

A projection display during the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Getty

An overview of the stadium ahead of the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games. AFP

A general view inside the stadium during the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at the National Stadium. Getty

Performers dance during the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Getty

Hosts address the crowd during the pre-show ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics. AP Photo

BEIJING, CHINA - FEBRUARY 04: A general view inside the stadium as fireworks are set off during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at the Beijing National Stadium on February 04, 2022 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Richard Heathcote / Getty Images)

Inside the national stadium before the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Reuters

Inside the national stadium before the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. PA

A woman wearing a face mask holds a Chinese national flag before the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Reuters

Spectators arrive for the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games at the National Stadium, also known as Bird's Nest, in Beijing China. EPA

Volunteers hold placards of Bing Dwen Dwen and Shuey Rhon Rhon, mascots of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, during a community event at an Olympics Live Site before the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics opening ceremony, in Beijing, China. Reuters

A man waves a Chinese flag as people gather near the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, for the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, in Beijing, China. Reuters

Members of Team United States during the opening ceremony. Getty

Athletes of China march during the opening ceremony. EPA

Athletes of China arrive for the opening ceremony. EPA

Dancers perform around the large snowflake during the opening ceremony. Getty

Opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Getty

The Bird's Nest stadium during the opening ceremony. Reuters

The Olympics returned to Beijing 14 years after the unforgettable 2008 Summer Games as Friday's opening ceremony for the 2022 Winter Olympics marked the end of months of uncertainty over the event due to the ongoing pandemic.

The National Stadium - better known as the Bird's Nest Stadium - was the venue for Friday's opening ceremony, which was a scaled down version of the one in 2008 due to the severe restrictions put in place to stop of the spread of the coronavirus.

Even so, a number of high profile dignitaries were in Beijing for the opening ceremony. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, arrived in Beijing on Friday to attend the Winter Olympics after being invited by President Xi Jinping.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also arrived on Friday for a meeting with President Xi ahead of the opening ceremony

A number of spectators filled up the Bird's Nest stadium before the opening ceremony despite the freezing -4 degrees Celsius temperature.

Still, it was an opportunity for Beijing celebrated the 'Year of the Tiger' on the Olympic stage.

The tiger — a symbol of strength and good luck in Chinese folklore — was featured during the ceremony. The placard bearers for all 91 countries in the 'parade of nations' each wore a unique tiger-head hat, and a children’s choir was outfitted in traditional tiger-head shoes made in the northern Hebei province.

Restrictions have been put in place on crowd attendance with organisers deciding last month not to sell tickets to Olympic events to limits the spread of the virus. A 'closed loop' has also been created to separate competitors and other personnel from the Chinese public throughout the Olympics.

President Xi Jinping stood and waved as the Chinese delegation entered the Bird’s Nest to complete the parade of athletes.

China have about 175 athletes expected to compete in the Olympics. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia made its first appearance at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony after alpine skier Fayik Abdi qualified to compete.

Following the grand opening, the attention will shift to the venues on Saturday .

All eyes turn now to whether Alpine skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin, who already owns three Olympic medals, can raise the bar higher. Snowboard sensation Shaun White will be looking to cap off his Olympic career.

Also, China will be pinning their hopes on Eileen Gu, the 18-year-old, American-born freestyle skier who has chosen to compete for her mother’s native country and could win three gold medals.