IOC president Thomas Bach has used the Winter Olympic ceremony as a chance to launch a thinly-veiled attack on Russia's controversial anti-gay laws.

He said that the Olympics are about "building bridges" and "embracing diversity".

In his first major speech as IOC president, Bach implored all governments to respect the message of the games of "peace, tolerance, unity and no discrimination of any kind".

Image: General view as one of the Olympic rings fails to open ©INPHO/Ian NcNicol