
Erin Hamlin has led Team USA out for the start of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang after being named as flag carrier ahead of Shani Davis, who boycotted the ceremony.

Hamlin, a four-time Olympian and winner of a luge bronze medal at the 2014 Sochi games, beamed a broad smile as she led out the athletes competing at the games in South Korea to the accompaniment of 'Gangnam Style'.

The 31-year-old was chosen in a tie-breaking coin toss with speedskater Shani Davis, one of just a few black athletes in Team USA, who says he should have been chosen to carry the Stars and Stripes.

Davis, 35, a five-time Olympian who has won two gold medals and two silver medals, lost after a vote among sports federations represented at the games ended in a draw.

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Erin Hamlin carries the flag of the United States during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang

With 'Gangnam Style' blaring out across the stadium, the luger beamed a huge smile as she waved the Stars and Stripes

American competitors - minus Shani Davis - parading at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony

Hamlin is a four-time Olympian and winner of a luge bronze medal at the 2014 Sochi games

Hamlin said it is a 'big privilege to represent Team USA' at the games has already announced this will be her last Olympics as she is retiring immediately after

Hamlin is the first American to medal in luge singles and a winner of 23 World Cup medal

Hamlin had a big grin as she led her team, many of whom had their cellphones in their hands, videoing the event, into the stadium

A U.S. speed skating spokesman said Davis had not originally planned to march in the parade of nations later on Friday, but would have made an exception if he had been chosen as flag-bearer.

'Shani won't march in the parade. It was never part of his plans. He is fully focused on his first race and is concentrating on that,' the spokesman said.

In an angry tweet, Davis, took a shot at Hamlin, the holder of a single bronze medal.

'I am an American and when I won the 1000m in 2010 I became the first American to 2-peat in that event,' Davis wrote on Twitter in the early hours of Thursday.

United States' athletes Erin Hamlin, left, and Shani Davis. Davis blasted the selection of luge athlete Hamlin as the U.S. flagbearer for the opening ceremony at the Pyeongchang Games

In an angry tweet (left) at 1.36am on Thursday, Davis, took a shot at Team USA over their 'dishonorable' decision to toss a coin to decide the flag bearer. He tweeted again today (right), in what appears to be another a thinly veiled jibe about representing the 'most diverse country in the world' after Team USA was criticized for its lack of diversity

Hamlin has since tweeted, saying that she is 'beyond grateful' to be able to lead Team USA into the stadium

He then slammed Team USA for 'dishonorably' tossing a coin to decide who would have the honor of carrying the flag.

'No problem. I can wait until 2022,' he added before using the hashtag #BlackHistoryMonth2018.'

The reaction has not gone down well with fans who dubbed Davis a 'baby', 'spoiled' and said his reaction was a case of 'sour grapes'.

He tweeted again today, in what appears to be another a thinly veiled jibe at Team USA who have already faced criticism over the lack of diversity in their 2018 Winter team.

'It has been such an honor to have represented the greatest, most diverse country in the world at the last five Winter Games during the same month as #blackhistorymonth #goTeamUSA.

'Watch 'Origins of Black History Month'.'

The US is not the most diverse country in the world. In fact it doesn't even break the top 20, according to Pew Research.

The athlete's mother Cherie Davis, a controversial figure renowned for her fierce, relentless defense of her son if she believes he is in any way under attack, claimed she wasn't aware of the furor about the choice of flagbearer until yesterday.

Davis was not among the dozens of American athletes that marched into the stadium for the ceremony on Friday

Gold medal winner Lindsey Vonn, an alpine skier, enters the stadium with her arms raised high for the Opening Ceremony

USA's snowboard athlete Shaun White joined Gus Kenworthy as his country's delegation parades during the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games

The two-time Olympic gold winner then posed for a selfie with other athletes during the ceremony

When asked about her son's angry tweet, she said: 'I know something about a coin toss, he told me last night.

'I don't know anything else. Is that all?'

Davis, a long track speed skater, is set to compete in the men's 500m, 1,000m and 1,500m. His first event will be the 1,500m on Tuesday.

Hamlin, 31, the first American to medal in luge singles and a winner of 23 World Cup medal, has already announced this will be her last Olympics as she is retiring immediately after these games. Her first event in the women's luge on Saturday.

In a statement she said she was 'honored and excited' to be named flag-bearer adding 'this is something totally different'.

'It's something that is because of that hard work. People acknowledge that and respect that. It's a big privilege to represent Team USA.'

The US team has three openly gay athletes competing this year; freestyle skiier Gus Kenworthy, figure skater Adam Rippon and speed skater Brittany Bowe (who shared a photo of herself at the opening ceremony with the rest of the team)

History in the making: Gus Kenworthy, 26, posted photos of himself and figure skater Adam Rippon, 28, at the Opening ceremony for the 2018 Winter Olympics (pair above on Friday)

Mike Pence's attempted to involve himself in the historic moment and tweeted at Rippon: 'I want you to know we are FOR YOU. Don't let fake news distract you. I am proud of you and ALL OF OUR GREAT athletes and my only hope for you and all of #TeamUSA is to bring home the gold. Go get 'em!'

Kenworthy posted a picture of him hugging Rippon at the games with the caption: 'Eat your heart out, Pence'

Loud and proud: Both Kenworthy and Rippon posted about how happy they were to be in South Korea on Friday (above)

The American team has 11 Asian American athletes and 10 black athletes members, a ratio that is far lower than the number of minority athletes the team sends to the Summer Games.

However, the team does have three openly gay athletes competing this year; freestyle skiier Gus Kenworthy, figure skater Adam Rippon and speed skater Brittany Bowe.

They made history at the Opening Ceremony as the first openly gay athlete marched with Team USA for the first time in the history of the Winter Games.

And it was not just one out-and-proud American who entered the newly constructed stadium in South Korea for the kick-off to the 16-day affair, but three: freestyle skiier Gus Kenworthy, figure skater Adam Rippon and speed skater Brittany Bowe.

Kenworthy, 26, posted photos of himself and Rippon, 28, sharing a friendly kiss on the cheek at the Opening ceremony for the 2018 Winter Olympics. The pair have been lauded by Hillary Clinton and Tyler Oakley.

However, Mike Pence's attempts to involve himself in the historic moment didn't go well when he tweeted at Rippon: 'I want you to know we are FOR YOU. Don't let fake news distract you. I am proud of you and ALL OF OUR GREAT athletes and my only hope for you and all of #TeamUSA is to bring home the gold. Go get 'em!'

Pence was responding to an interview Rippon gave last month, blasting the White House for tapping Pence to lead the official US delegation.

'You mean Mike Pence, the same Mike Pence that funded gay conversion therapy?' Rippon asked USA Today.

Today, Kenworthy posted a picture of him hugging Rippon at the games, saying he 'so proud to be representing the LGBTQ community', along with a nod to the conservative Republican.

'Eat your heart out, Pence. #TeamUSA #TeamUSGay,' he wrote, adding, in another post, 'We're here, we're queer, get used to it!'

The Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Pyeongchang kicked off with a bang on Friday as both North and South joined together to put on a display of peace and unity

The spectacular display featured thousands of fireworks and a dazzling light display, along with mesmerizing and frequently bizarre performances by dancers and five child actors depicting a quest for peace

The ceremony started with five children setting off on a quest to find peace, which has become the theme of the games

The children were accompanied on their quest by the White Tiger, one of the four guardian gods and protectors of peace

Alongside the huge puppets were spectacular light displays and thousands of dancers wearing traditional Korean costumes

North Korea's Hwang Chung Gum and South Korea's Won Yun-jong both hold the unity flag as they lead out both South and North Korean athletes during the parade of nations

Projections were also cast on to the ice to tell the second section of the story, entitled Land of Peace, which sees unity and order brought to a chaotic universe

Fireworks light up the night sky around the Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium as the opening ceremony enters full swing

Over the past six years the U.S. Olympic Committee has made concerted efforts to promote diversity among its team members.

In 2012, a committee was formed to improve diversity and Jason Thompson was hired as director of diversity and inclusion.

Hamlin did not address the controversy but told USA Today: 'Winning a medal is the effort you put in and the time and the work and sacrifice to succeed and achieve something. That's all on me. That's something I've done.

'I think they're going to be really glad that they made that decision.

'They're really pumped. I'm sure my brothers will be. We've grown up watching the Olympics and we're always like, 'Who's going to be carrying the flag?' And to actually be that person is insane.'

Hamlin's teammates were thrilled by the news, both because of what it will mean for her and what it means for the niche sport of luge.

Kim Jong-un's sister sits right behind US Vice President Mike Pence at the Winter Olympics North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un 's sister was seen enjoying the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Pyeongchang, South Korea sitting right behind U.S. Vice President Mike Pence. Kim Yo Jong had taken her seat just feet away from the Vice President, behind his wife Karen Pence, after shaking the hand of South Korean President Moon Jae-in as they entered the stadium for the event. Kim Jong Un's younger sister is part of a high-level diplomatic delegation led by the North's ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam, and she is the first member of Pyongyang's ruling dynasty to set foot in the country since the Korean War. Diplomatic progress? Kim Jong-Un's sister Kim Yo-Jong, second from top right, is seen sitting just feet away from Vice President Mike Pence, second from bottom right, and his wife Karen during the opening ceremony Kim Yong Nam was earlier seen meeting with President Moon, the two leaders shaking hands in a historic moment ahead of the opening ceremony. He had also reportedly met with Mr Pence on Thursday night when the Vice President stopped by a formal dinner which he ended up not joining. Vice President Pence, Mr Kim and President Moon had reportedly been due to share a table at the dinner, but Mr Pence he arrived late, 'exchanged greetings with those seated at the head table, and left without sitting down', a spokesperson for the South Korean president's office said. This despite the fact that a top North Korea Foreign Ministry official had ruled out meeting with any representatives from the United States. President Moon has pushed the Games as a 'peace Olympics' that will open a door for dialogue to alleviate tensions on the peninsula and seek to persuade Pyongyang to give up its atomic ambitions. There is reportedly a 'good chance' that Ms Kim will invite President Moon to Pyongyang during a lunch on Saturday, CNN reports. Peace Olympics': Kim Yo-Jong was seated next to North Korea's ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam, behind President Moon and his wife, and Mr and Mrs Pence Making friends: Ms Kim is seen shaking hands with President Moon Jae-in ahead of the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games Sources told CNN that the potential visit would be 'sometime this year', and if it goes ahead it would be the first visit from a South Korean president in 11 years. The last member of the Kim family to set foot in Seoul was Yo Jong's grandfather Kim Il Sung, the North's founder, after his forces invaded in 1950 and the capital fell. Three years later the conflict ended with a ceasefire rather than a peace treaty, leaving the peninsula divided by the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone, and the two sides technically in a state of war. Advertisement

'I was so happy for her,' U.S. doubles Olympian Jayson Terdiman said.

'It's one of the coolest things. I tell you what, I can't wait. I couldn't wait before, but now I can't wait even more. Not just does Erin get to hold that flag, but USA Luge gets to hold that flag. It's so cool. It's a great honor for our small sport.'

Hamlin led the American team at the grand opening ceremony for the 2018 Winter Olympic in Pyeongchang which kicked off on Friday with a spectacular display featuring child performers, huge puppets, dazzling light displays and thousands of dancers in a celebration of Korean unity.

Inside the area 30,000 people, including a 200-strong North Korean cheerleading squad, watched the display in -3C temperatures, and were encouraged to bang drums given to them in an extreme weather kit to keep warm.

Hundreds of drummers filled the center of the Olympic stadium as the first section of the ceremony comes to a close

The drummers were part of the mesmerizing display that finished as the parade of nations began

Eight former South Korean Olympians entered the stadium with their flag which was raised before the national anthem

Erin Hamlin, four-time Olympic luger, led out the United States during the parade of nations having won the honor from speed skater Shani Davis with a controversial coin toss

A man in a USA jacket watches on as flag bearer Erin Hamlin and teammates entered the stadium during the Opening Ceremony

Members of Team USA walk during the Opening Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium

Team GB were led into the stadium by Lizzy Yarnold who won gold at the women's skeleton during the 2014 Olympics

Snowboarder Scotty James, who became Australia's youngest Olympian in 50 years when he secured at the 2010 games aged just 15, led out his national team

Russian Olympians entered the stadium under the Olympic flag. The country is officially banned from competing after a state-sponsored doping ring was uncovered but individual athletes who can prove they are clean are permitted to attend

The Bermudan Olympic team drew gasps from the audience – and praise from other athletes – as they marched into the stadium in shorts

Tonga's Pita Taufatofau, who became an internet celebrity after he led his country out at the Summer Olympics in Rio in 2016 while shirtless and oiled up, was just as oiled and shirtless for this display

As the teams paraded around the stadium their national flags were displayed in the centre of the stage, while lights behind each seat lit up with the national colours.

The ceremony was also watched by South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam, who had earlier shaken hands in an historic meeting.

MIKE PENCE MET WITH FATHER OF LATE US STUDENT OTTO WARMBIER AHEAD OF CEREMONY Mike Pence met with Fred Warmbier, the father of the late Otto Warmbier, in South Korea ahead of the opening ceremony. The Vice President sat down with Warmbier alongside four North Korean defectors on Friday. Pence said last week that he had invited Warmbier to attend the opening ceremony of the Winter Games as his personal guest. Warmbier's son Otto was sentenced to 15 years of prison hard labor in North Korea after being found guilty of stealing a propaganda poster from his hotel in Pyongyang while visiting as a tourist. He served just 17 months of that sentence before his comatose body was handed back to US officials and flown home, where he died shortly afterward. Post mortem examinations show Warmbier suffered severe brain damage while in North Korean custody, but the cause remains a mystery. Advertisement

Sitting alongside them in the world leader's box was Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, and Vice President Mike Pence - sitting just one row apart.

Four Korean singers then took to the stage to perform 'Imagine' by John Lennon, who were then backed by a film showing street musicians around the world singing the song. The show, directed by Korean actor Song Seung-whan, uses the South Korean flag – the Taegeukgi - and the traditional janggo drum to represent the harmony of yin and yang.

South Korea's Royal Marching Band and the Traditional Guard of Honour – both in national dress, wowed the crowd.

South Korea's President President Moon Jae-in proclaimed the Pyeongchang Olympic Games as a 'path to peace' as he opened the Games in a spectacular ceremony. He added that sport had the power to bring 'reconciliation between East and West'.

He said: 'I would like to welcome everyone who has joined us here in at Pyeongchang for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. The Seoul 1988 Summer Games paved the way for reconciliation between East and West by breaking down the wall of the Cold War.

'Thirty years after hosting the Summer Games, the Pyeongchang Olympic Winter Games has commenced with a hope for peace from everyone around the world. It was with an ardent desire that the people of Korea aspired to host the Olympic Winter Games, as the dream and future of Korea, the only divided nation in the world, mirrors the Olympic spirit in its pursuit of peace.

The rival regimes of North and South Korea have put aside decades of enmity to celebrate winter sports in the spirit of 'peace and friendship'.

The two Korean states remain in a state of war despite the 1953 ceasefire that split the nation into the communist north and the capitalist south. But today athletes from each country entered the stadium together under one flag and are fielding a joint women's hockey team.

North Korea has sent a total of 22 athletes over the border to compete in five sports, including figure skating, skiing and speed skating.

In line with President Moon's 'peace Olympics' ambitions, there is reportedly a 'good chance' that Ms Kim will invite President Moon to Pyongyang during a lunch on Saturday, CNN reports.

A member of North Korea's cheerleader squad waves at the camera from inside the Pyeongchang Olympic stadium

North Korea is using the games to stage a charm offensive following a record-breaking number of missile tests last year. Pictured are members of the North Korean cheerleading squad take their seats ahead of the opening ceremony

The dramatic display was watched by US Vice President Mike Pence and North Korea's Kim Yo Jong, who sat as far apart as possible in the world leader's box

Taekwondo is an ancient Korean martial art and was used to reinforce the spirit of togetherness that has become the emphasis of the games

A joint taekwondo team served as the warm-up act before the main opening ceremony, breaking wooden planks with kicks

Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, speaks next to Lee Hee-beom (top), President & CEO of PyeongChang Organizing Committee

The ceremony closed as four Korean pop stars sang a rendition of John Lenon's Imagine amid a sea of swaying lights

Performers with light-up boxes featured as part of the ceremony in an incredible visual display

The boxes were used to create a halo around the edge of the stage as columns of lights were lowered from a central rig

As the box lights were extinguished the columns were illuminated, creating a spectacular effect

'Trump' and 'Kim' are thrown out of the Winter Games opening ceremony after posing for selfies in the stands Two prankster impersonators were thrown out of the Winter Games after staging a historic handshake between 'President Trump' and 'Kim Jong-Un'. Arm-in-arm they caused a stir as they walked into the ceremony upstaging the US Vice President and Jong-un's sister who were seated in the VIP box on the other side of the 35,000-seater stadium. Security guards soon pounced on the pair and escorted them out, but not before hundreds of cell phones had captured the moment and fed the internet. Two pranksters caused a stir at the Winter Olympics in South Korea opening ceremony by dressing up as Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un The two impersonators appeared before the press seating area and posed for photographs. 'Trump' donned a red USA baseball cap while 'Jong-un' wore a pair of glasses and a long black coat. One witness said: 'It was hilarious particularly as a few people thought these guys were the real deal at first. It was freezing and these comedians warmed everybody up. There was more attention on them than the athletes.' The unlikely duo posed for photos in front of the press seating area At first some of the assembled crowd thought the lookalikes were in fact the real deal - but that was soon dispelled when they began taking selfies They were eventually ejected from the stadium by security but not before telling an official they wanted to show peace can be found between the US and North Korea Before leaving the stadium, the pranksters told an official that their message had been that 'peace can be found. ' The Kim impersonator said the two men decided to appear together in Seoul 'to show the world, this is what peace could look like when two leaders get along. 'We get along personally, so I believe that Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un, if they talked they'd probably get along. Because in my opinion, they're pretty much the same person. 'And Dennis Rodman has confirmed this and he's met both of them personally' he added, referring to the former NBA player who has met with Kim multiple times. 'So let's start talking and stop with all the missiles and everything else. We want peace, everybody wants peace, nobody wants war.' Advertisement

The last member of the Kim family to set foot in Seoul was Yo Jong's grandfather Kim Il Sung, the North's founder, after his forces invaded in 1950 and the capital fell. Three years later the conflict ended with a ceasefire rather than a peace treaty, leaving the peninsula divided by the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone, and the two sides technically in a state of war.

Many analysts suggest Yo Jong may be carrying a personal message from her brother to his dovish South Korean counterpart Moon.

Tensions have been high on the peninsula since last year when the North staged its sixth and most powerful nuclear test and test-fired multiple long-range missiles, some of them capable of reaching the US mainland.

Kim and Moon also clinked glasses at a world leader's reception where the North Korean delegate was sat at the top table

North and South Korea are still officially at war, and while leaders have been keen to paint the games as a chance for unity, protesters gathered in Pyeongchang felt otherwise

Protesters ripped images of Kim Jong Un and shouted anti-North Korean slogans ahead of the opening ceremony

Not everyone shared the spirit of unity, however, and protesters angry at Moon's seeming appeasement of the North clashed with security outside the main stadium

Leader Kim and US President Donald Trump exchanged threats of war and personal insults, sparking global alarm and fears of another conflict on the peninsula. But Kim abruptly announced a plan to send athletes and high-level delegates to the Pyeongchang Winter Games in his new year speech, setting in motion a flurry of cross-border talks and activities.

North Korea's loyal head of state Kim Yong Nam North Korea's ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam is a career diplomat whose unquestioning loyalty has ensured his survival for decades in the regime's top ranks. Kim, who turns 90 this month, has served the North's ruling Kim family for three generations, despite periodic purges of the Workers' Party. Leader Kim Jong Un had his own uncle executed for treason two years after coming to power, and his half-brother Kim Jong Nam was assassinated in a Malaysian airport last year, but Kim Yong Nam - who is not a close blood relative of the ruling family - survived. South Korean analysts have nicknamed him 'Tape Recorder', he added, 'as he always parrots what has been said by the supreme leader'. He's seen as the number-two in the official party ranks. Advertisement

The announcement - following months of cajoling by Seoul - is seen as a bid to defuse tensions and try to seek a loosening of the sanctions against it.

Hundreds of athletes, cheerleaders and artistes have already arrived in the South and the North's state orchestra gave one of two planned concerts in the South on Thursday night to a packed audience.

But the latest rapprochement has met a backlash in the South with many accusing Seoul of making too many concessions to the wayward neighbor that even pushed ahead with a military parade on Thursday in Pyongyang in a showcase of its military might.

Anti-North Korea protesters held demonstrations outside the stadium, tearing up photos of Kim Jong-un and shouting anti-North Korean slogans.

Conservative activists also accused Pyongyang of 'hijacking' the South's Winter Olympics and have held angry protests by burning the images of the leader Kim or the North's national flag near venues where North Koreans made public appearances.

Pence, who leads the US delegation to the Olympics, renewed a call for 'maximum pressure' on the North to force it abandon its nuclear weapon during a meeting with Moon Thursday.

But he did not rule out a meeting with the North's delegates during the Games, saying there 'may be a possibility for any kind of an encounter with North Koreans,' whether informal or formal.

Pence also sought to concentrate minds by inviting the father of Otto Warmbier, the American student who died a week after he was released from a North Korean jail in a coma last year, to the opening ceremony as his guest.

Despite a thawing in international relations the event is set to be the coldest Olympic Games on record with day-break temperatures of below minus 20 Celsius at the mountain locations – and a bitter wind sending the chill-factor through the frozen floor.

Organisers have laid on special extreme weather kits – including heat pads, a warm seat cushion, bobble hat and raincoat – but the Korean winter will still seep through.

The crowd fear they will shiver amid flurries of snow swirling around the open-air stadium, as the athletes from the 102 nations, who will compete for medals in 15 different sports, fill the arena.