organizers say it will be one to tell the grandkids as the hours take down to the opening ceremony of the twenty second winter olympic games a show they say will be even more spectacular than the torch relay perceiving it plus he says the competition is just about ice and snow now that all the athletes are gathered here in sochi will be giving out the fashion gongs at the winter olympics from the weird and wonderful costumes to the overly bright and just downright bizarre. to you as gives the wild an unintentional peek at its plans for ukraine as a lead to further conversation between senior diplomats to leave washington ready for a. very

well welcome to our senior national twenty news live from moscow. thanks for joining us and with just hours to go saw trees at the sun told the sporting world billions are expected to choose to see how russia will open the twenty second winter olympic games going ises are promising a show no one will forget to compliment a torch relay that's already made history. isn't the olympic capital for us. the seventies seemed so she was awarded the winter olympics and in a few hours time we're going to see the culmination the climax of all that hard work and all doubt planning the opening ceremony gets underway at eight fourteen pm local time in the fish stadium that you can probably make out behind me and i was fortunate enough to get a ticket for the final dress rehearsal on choose david and i can tell you that the

forty thousand plus spectators who were going to be inside the stadium are going to be treated to a high tech pyrotechnic display a condensed journey through russian history and although the ending ceremony hasn't begun in the olympic cauldron hasn't been lit we still don't know the identity of the person tossed with that despite those things the sport has started the events began on thursday and the continuing to run throughout friday and also has spoken to a couple of athletes who have tested their venues ahead of their events and they say that such she is ready to welcome the school ting world first precious having a good weekend riding every day. like states don't have this much that's accessible but so easily. right off to live. right in the sun but every day. so yes. i think the russians are very enthusiastic about sport and about the olympics so i

expect them to play great hosts of the world and so far what i've seen has been very impressive and i can't wait to get down to the venues and see the called again well tonight's opening ceremony will also see the climax of the journey for the olympic torch it's on its record breaking sixty five thousand kilometer journey around the world's largest country it's in the final stages of that journey of course has been to the bottom of the world's deepest lake lake by kalas being to the top of the highest peak in europe mt elbrus and has even been into outer space on the north pole and in the last twenty four hours it's been carried by a number of. high profile figures as well including russia's foreign minister sergei lavrov he's taken time out of his busy schedule to pick up the baton as has u.n. secretary general ban ki moon who is here for tonight's opening ceremony and organizers say that for the olympic torch relay it is almost a case of mission accomplished it's of course the longest and biggest torch relay in time and history so it's been

a huge logistical effort to make this happen in russia in winter time but it's been a fantastic journey and i mean every dream. he had before we started has really come through so it's it's been an amazing journey really showing the first verse of everybody over the next few hours the olympic torch is going to snake its way through such a before arriving here in the fish stadium for the opening ceremony and atmosphere is building because the such the twenty fourteen winter olympics are now just hours away. of course our correspondents and cameras are in place to give you the news from every venue in sochi and it gave you a taste of the olympic spirit and a postcard which just heart from him has set up camp in the olympic park in the coastal cluster of sancerre where the opening ceremony will begin this evening five went to disciplines will be contested there and a half hour drive into the mountains is the upper class to where the rest of the competition will take

a place that and that's where else he is under farmer will be through the gains lettuce and. when russia won the right to host these olympics there wasn't even a paved road leading to the road or who tour never mind a tally cabin but now look at it it is a fully fledged european style ski village there are hotel chains here is what is restaurants and cafes and there's even a nightclub around the corner but this place is in it for the long haul because long after the olympics have packed up and gone home it's hope that many kinds of tourists will come here for decades to come there's something like sixty kilometers worth of ski runs and three ski areas around this place and that is set to be expanded so this little tour even though it's been short does show that there's much more to these olympics than just sporting venues it's all about the overhaul and the entire regeneration of a region. before the medal count began as let's now take a look at some basic numbers that organizers have been keen to get alba and these

are the twenty second winter olympics and by all accounts record breaking almost three thousand athletes from the largest ever number of countries eighty eight countries will compete in sochi in a record number of sporting events there are ninety eight sporting events that another record assault has broken is the cost these are by far the most expensive winter games in history but it's not all about the numbers of course in the midst of the sportsmanship there's another fierce contest that for many is now less important tom designers worldwide have put all their efforts into making the teams the gold standard of olympic function and not an endurance tells us about how that . will be on the procession tonight at the opening ceremony and indeed what people are wearing are the uniforms are they costumes all of the political statements so let's give you a wrap of what you can expect tonight let's go straight to the german team will

certainly stand out from the crowd we have been designed by. that total coats in what could be described as a rainbow childish garish effect with that bright colors of pink yellow blue green a few people have said that it's a nod towards the anti gay attitude and subjects running the controversy of the games but personally i think it's just a throwback to the cab as a my little pony so that's the german team for you expect them to be that in lights certainly selling out in the procession let's move on to my opinion and what i think are the most stylish and chic uniforms that will be showing tonight they are of course america some say new york is the fashion capital of the world and the costumes uniforms are designed by ralph lauren they were unveiled last year and of course they are here in the pico says that coat with a slim sweatpants. with a floppy hats with a star design in the colors red white and blue so personal thumbs up to the

american team now let's go from something quite acceptable to the weird and wonderful let's take a look at the scandinavian country of norway and the curling team in the zigzag efforts of what you can see now in the colors also if red white and blue they wanted to feel at ease on the ice with what they're wearing and they certainly will be wearing those outfits so fingers crossed that costume will work for them because personally i would not want to wear that outfit living also a great guy he's been in the papers and covered by lots of the media it's the mexican ski championship herbert's von holzen who and he's actually just one eighth mexican he's actually descendant of german royalty people say he's a prince of the people that don't he'll be wearing the lehrer outfit and you certainly won't miss him in his truffled ruffled succeeded with his red tie and come about and that's the prince hubertus von. moving on to the russian bombshell that is irina sidr over recently she posed for

a glossy magazine wearing just lingerie with her curling stone she's got lots of tongues wagging lots of people are looking forward to seeing her tonight of course she isn't just a pretty face but she is a celebrity here in russia of course and i would also be seeing other teams from around the world including great britain and the rest of the russian team so while three billion people might be watching the opening ceremony for the famous torch bearing other people will see it as a fashion and somewhat political statement regarding what people are wearing let's look forward to an excitement here is just part of the. this evening we begin brawl consing from our olympic studio in seoul chain and in time of year i will be working to bring you the atmosphere the results on what's happening behind the scenes. twenty four gene promise is the ultimate in the exhilarating winter. storm and you

see no way i'm a criminal and the worst of all the hate you seem to sochi twenty four take. on. the house refused to comment on the role washington is apparently playing in ukraine's very own game of thrones and leaked phone conversation between top u.s. officials has exposed you know one of kings of the state department so that would be great i think to help glue this thing and have the u.n. help glue it and you know the e.u. in the intercepted phone call us assistant secretary of state with tori nuland draws a full roadmap of how a new ukrainian government should be organized. explains from new york well what you hear during this four minute conversation is basically two top u.s. officials strategizing about how to form you crane's new government it sounds like they're playing a game of chess with the opposition leaders as the pieces on that chess board

they're trying to determine which opposition leader has the best economic and governing experience to work inside ukraine's new government and which opposition leaders should remain on the outside it's a bit shocking to actually hear i had to listen to it are you times to really grasp the fact that there are strategizing on how to put together the government of another country instead of paraphrasing everything let let's let our viewers actually take a listen for themselves. the piece was obviously that complicated electronics you're. going to miss deputy prime minister and you've seen some of our notes on the troubles in the marriage right now so we're trying to get a read really fast on where he goes on this stuff i'm glad you sort of put him on the spot on where he fits in your scenario so i don't think leetch should go into the government i don't think it's necessary i don't think it's a good idea in terms of going into the government just let him sort of stay out in

doofus judical homework and stuff i think he is the guy who's got the economic experience the governing experience he's the he's the guy you know what he need to screech into any book on the outside he needs to be talking to them four times a week well clearly this is a highly embarrassing situation for the united states particularly because we've been here u.s. officials insist for so long that they're not involving themselves in ukraine's internal circumstance. for for the spokesperson for the for the u.s. state department she had a pretty difficult day on thursday jen psaki was put in the hot seat by journalists one after another reporters kept asking her why u.s. officials are interfering in ukraine's internal problems at one point corresponded said point blank that the leaked conversation was she's attempting to construct a new government in a sovereign country and actually bring officials in from the u.n. to seal the deal one thing u.s.

officials had not spin their way out of it is the profanity and dismissive tone victoria nuland used when referring to the european union and its involvement in ukraine for that an apology was issued she's been in close contact with a representative ashton also let me convey that she has been in contact with the e.u. counterparts and and of course has apologized but. for these reported comments of course you're not confirming that colbert your shoes under snow is going to speak to a private diplomatic conversation but i'm obviously speaking to the content of the reports. misaki also tried to make somewhat of a joke when she was in damage control mode when she was referring to the use of profanity when it came to victoria nuland the assistant secretary of state let's take a listen you may know the story of how she lived on the russian boat for about eight

months when she was twenty three in she learned how to perfect perhaps certain words in a couple of languages so perhaps it speaks to that more than a pervasive viewpoint you know suggesting that she is a predisposition against russian no i was suggesting that she learned russian curse words and curse words on the diseases of these issues. i was making and learning first words on a fishing boat there you see a us folks person trying to make a joke out of a situation that is quite scandalous quite embarrassing not sure of any high official i officially in ukraine are laughing at this moment after their hearing this leaked conversation on you tube about you know the united states strategizing on how to build a new government in a sovereign country. and let's get more on that it's from a load of a new used a former deputy speaker of the belgian parliament mr welcome to nice to see.

how well ukraine's political powers react now the u.s. has planned for that political scene. did you say you're being political sources no no no actually i'm talking about the ukrainian political. ok well actually what you can government and ukrainian opposition can learn from this is actually not a new i would say to dan welcome to the real world of diplomacy behind closed doors this confirms the long stance of the united states and the e.u. by the way towards other countries disdain or to show for democracy and sovereignty of other countries it's just what happened to happened in this huge incentive in latin america all over the world this was to her but this is the new face of colonialism in a way to are not at all surprised what ukrainian government government in power that is this should learn from these that yes this is a proof of what they already long down suspected that the u.s. and e.u.

are heavily involved and interfering in the politics of their country victoria nuland also said that the u.s. has policies in ukraine are totally transparent and she said that in response to some claims that the u.s. is actually of financing and investing billions in their ukrainian policy as a dia saying that this leaked phone call can undermine that claim. yes of course this dish once more undermines the whole claim of transparency and democracy building anger but today building of political institutions these are all ideological efforts to improve one's politics in other countries this is what the united states has been doing for decades he just confirms a longstanding it also by the way shows how casual these people can talk about the politics of another country when they have no new nor legitimate way of influencing

things world this is what they do this is the real world of geopolitics. the us has assessed the destiny of ukraine should be in that the hands of its own people but how much influence does the public on the country's political situation. well of course the day you do your cranium people are with all the complexity and the historic girl divined that they are the real victim here because what is in the country needs is a conciliation and what is happening right now is the e.u. any us on one side influencing both the chiller so that a compromise becomes impossible what the ukrainian people need is not the political elite from the from the government side as well as from the opposition because when i see some of these leaders the one that you already mentioned the one that the us also seems unsuitable to look on minister or to the democracy democratic so-called

densham of the people of these people are abysmal for the monday ukrainian people have no real option within the political elite as they are like you. and briefly if you can so we know that they scandal it forced at the. president of the european parliament to express his concern at such high profile by topic is this really the only thing they should be worried about here think the e.u. well first of all when you said the e.u. who are we talking about the people are gay elite or dear abby and commission the e.u. when you mean the people in power in these institutions of good issued a warrant of the fact that they have that they are really second layer in these issues all pretense aside and when it really comes down to things in the e.u. the us sorry there's not as regarded as an ally it's just a it's just a matter of corporation for convenience but when it choose

a noble just drown them just as easily. right the newest former deputy speaker of the about on parliament mr dennis thank you very much and you're my. if you want more our website has got it all the banks of the south as well as the reaction of the u.s. state department go to o.c. dot com for more and also later in the program david cameron footsie is cruz on this court's laboring a speech on current portrayed it was nationalist to read trick to waxing lyrical about what his side of the benefits of staying part of the u.k. that's after the break.

to. choose your language. kill it make it without any of the materials still some of. the consensus. to the opinions that you. choose to stories that entire lives choose the access to.

again this is the welcome back the british prime minister has wrapped himself figuratively in the british olympic flags today calling for scotland to vote against becoming independent from the u.k. but as david cameron kept up the pressure from the olympic stadium in london this school just national party has heavily criticized him for giving this speech south of the border he's a lawyer smith is live with us now from london hi there laura so what was the p.m.'s argument to keep scotland in the fold. well on friday he wasn't actually talking to the scots he said he was actually talking to everybody else in the english the wealth of welsh in the northern irish he said four million scottish people would be able to vote in this referendum but in fact sixty three million people would be affected everybody in the british isles and he

urged those other people who don't have a vote to play a part he said you may not have a vote but you do have a voice so what he wants everybody to do is phone or tweet anyone scottish that we know and tell them that we don't want them to leave the u.k. that's essentially his message today we want you to stay and that message betrays his worry really and could be quite timely in the recent poll has shown that support for scottish independence south of the border has leapt a little bit in the last few months january poll showed twenty four percent in support up from twenty one percent in november so he'll be slightly worried about that as far as the points that he made goes he stressed this intricate tapestry of the u.k. as he called it he said there are business ties agricultural ties but there are also personal ties to he said his own name is a scottish clan name cameron cook it knows parrot me he talked about prosperity he

said in a world of economic uncertainty the u.k. is certainly stronger as a bigger bloc and he talked about a place in the world of the u.k. a seat on the u.n. security council nato hosting of the g eight summit and he said we matter more as a united kingdom and he also made the emotional case for staying part of the union and this is where he really played the scots at their own game of course they have the scottish national party has appealed to national values and this is what david cameron did in his speech he said that the u.k. is more than the sum of its parts and that he cares too much to stay out of the argument is that he's come in for some heavy criticism over this speech hasn't he. he has i mean he did make this speech from the olympic stadium and just before there was a play to the assembled audience a video of team g.b. a limping pick highlight so you really laid it on very thick talking about g.b.

not just to refer to the olympic team but to refer to the united kingdom as it stands at the very minute and so he's been accused by the scottish national party of using the olympics in this way as a political tool and he certainly did labor that point also a lot of people have asked out sort of outside in the real world and also in the stadium where he made the speech why did he go to scotland why is he making this speech from london his argument of course is that he was talking to the people of england wales and northern ireland he wasn't necessarily talking to the scots but the scottish national party accusation again is that he was too cowardly to go to scotland that he won't come and he's too scared to take part in a face to face debate about the future of the united kingdom's norsemen line from london many thanks indeed for that. and also online for you right now an ugly mob and force here and after it's released it's a list of the world's ugliest monuments the broadcaster describes the i decided to

label an important world war two memorial and slightly triggering a furious reaction from veterans who've been arses had to r.t. dot com for the full story. and also online celebrities are proto graphed on the red carpet but they are those shots from their rather planet robot of rover curiosity has stunned by the first ever photo of our planet taken from mars. the syrian government has confirmed it will take part in the second round of geneva peace talks on monday meanwhile for people in the syrian city of homes there has been some a response from fighting thanks to a three day ceasefire it will last civilians to be evacuated and humanitarian supplies to base sent in those fleeing will join the estimated three and a half a million refugees already driven from their homes by the civil war. that one

family who was among them two high but mark leave is a refugee in her own country forced from a home by civil war she and her daughters are hiding some two hundred kilometers from the village in a three room apartment they share with another family the crime supporting president bashar assad. out the terrorists want to kill me they broke into my house to find me they looted everything they kidnapped six members of my family all because they're looking for me. a lot has been said about the desperate situation facing with fiji's who fled across the border to neighboring countries but most of those forced from their homes by the spiraling violence are displaced within syria itself these internally displaced people remain extremely vulnerable and their numbers continue to swell. this man i've been told many times to stop supporting assad and everything will be fine but i won't change my principles. when we will

fight his first got hold of through high birth she was eight months pregnant they kept her so badly she lost the baby but she refused to change her politics. i ran away with my children and my mother is very dear to me it is now the second age faster all that has passed without me being with her my mother has god by her side . he will not abandon her the are kidnapping young people sixteen year olds and they're cutting them to pieces when asked if she'll give herself up for family sake from high back in fashion pieces know. if i die i want my daughters to continue the same way everybody is going to die my mother may die but she won with their last victim i made. serious death toll stands at more than one hundred thousand with no sign of fighting a beijing for many internal refugees remains

a distant dream for those like through high but it's only been ideals that gives him the strength to carry on. the r.t. damascus syria. and other global news that there's been a fresh wave of our times in iraq where a car bomb and a shooting have taken six lives in the country's north another thirty people are said to have been injured the incident follows days of bloody attacks on civilians in baghdad and elsewhere in the country and western iraq shows no signs of easing and has already left more than a thousand people dead since the beginning of this year. at least one hundred and thirty people mostly police officers were injured when protesters in northern bossier took to the streets angry at the high rate of unemployment and corruption riot police used tear gas to break out their rallies that spread to other parts of the country the crowd responded by throwing stones setting tires on fire and attacking local government buildings the bridge that's erupted after four state

owned companies were privatized then later filed for by. at least four policemen were injured by two blasts in egypt's capital cairo the bombs went off in giza near where they security forces vehicles were parked there's been a spike in attacks in a trip since the military coup took place last july. and right now so few shows are not as interview with a male of the house olympic city of sochi anatoly.

the flame. the olympic spirit travels with the flame from its birthplace in greece. joining james brown for an elemental and epic journey around russia and beyond. where i. play. the b.o.'s you don't know if you don't play carlos response to really. i lost everyone in my life that i cared about their goal much and then.