tennis star and sochi hometown hero maria sharapova also carried the torch. she expects russia to wow the world. >> knowing our history of dance and art and culture, we enjoy a good program. we enjoy a great performance. >> and a great party? >> and a party, yes, with a couple of vodka shots. >> reporter: russia's olympic coming out party is under way, the most expensive games in history. under the big top in sochi. and fears of empty seats in the olympic stadium seem to be a bit premature. the place was filled to the rafters. and of course those waiting to watch the show, the big show tonight. a couple of highlights that i noted, brian, being in there, one, the jamaican bobsled team got a great cheer. their gear finally showed up and they're ready to go. and then of course when team russia walked into the building, the roof came off. >> i think the games just needed to begin. kevin tibbles starting for us tonight. kevin, thanks. >>> as mentioned, the big scare had arrived as the opening ceremony was under way, that a man had attempted to hijack this jetliner

spoke to the famous tennis star maria sharapova about the excitement surrounding the winter olympics twenty forty. i'm very impressed by what i've seen here in sochi i haven't been here for a year and when i arrived yesterday i was amazed when i finally saw all the stadiums and then use i really hope that everyone will enjoy the olympic games here in sochi had friends some of them are volunteers they are from canada they were fortunate enough to see over her repetition as they call it in russian on sunday including some fireworks tonight at eleven o'clock the stadium that seats forty thousand people that will also be in full swing the rehearsals on friday the olympic ceremony is set to bring three billion spectators from around the world but the subject on many people's lips is that of gay rights and earlier on in the week i went to such he's only gay to speak to the owner and some of the party revelers regarding how gay life really is in russia and how the new anti gave already affects them take a look. thousands of athletes visit his are expected to arrive this week and three billi

delighted at the transformation her home city has undergone as is four time grand slam winner maria sharapova who had been on earth carrying the torch into the stadium sim in the black sea in the same day as you can drive up and out to the mountains instance and the best slopes in the world. and no one really believed me and i am i know that everyone be able to experience this and first of all we have role it's we have so many roles from the city it's because before we had so much traffics now it's going to be in much way better and here it looks in the village here it looks so much it's so cozy it's so nice i think i think what i heard from the tourists they love it the games have experienced a few teething problems two time olympic snowballing champion shaun white pulled out of a slope style event after a minor wrist injury in practice and saying the course was intimidating after the norwegian medal hope thorsten whoredom go broke his collarbone however great britain's billy morgan finished ten for over all and didn't agree with the snowboarding legends they had problems with with the machi

alexy be avoided up and we also caught up with maria sharapova although she wasn't born here she did play a lot of the early tennis here and she says it's the perfect place to host the olympics. same baxi same day as you can drive up and out against best slopes in the world. no one really believe me and i am i hope that everybody be able to experience this. but it does seem like we are a world away from the palm trees the black sea but it is actually just a forty minute train ride all car ride away and down at the black sea we've been talking to many athletes who say they've been very impressed with the compact nature of the games because there are at least villages actually very close to the venue where they'll be competing i feel good and everybody from the french team feels good so everything is small you know ordered a village and everything it's closing. the ice rink is close to the olympic village sure we can go by war and there is not a big security so we feel free and we're feeling confident in the meantime the clock raiser who tory's taking towards the start of the opening c

there is not a big security so we feel free and we're fairly confident the russian tennis star maria sharapova is also in town and she has links to this part of the world too and in her opinion she says sochi is the. perfect place to host the winter olympics. swim in the black sea the same day as you can drive up and out to the mountains inside the best slopes in the world. no one really believed me and i am i hope that everyone be able to experience this and finally we should note that even though the opening ceremony is tomorrow some advance have already started the qualification in the men's and women's slight style snowboarding has begun and the figure skating team event would also get on the way so even though we're still waiting for the colder to be lit for some athletes she twenty fourteen is already up and running. well he says the sport finally got under way off the months if not years of talking although at this early stage nobody knows exactly what the medals table will look like come the end of the games. believe that they have one animal. they believe that in their midst is a psyc

and also the world famous tennis star maria sharapova i did her comments on the excitement surrounding the twenty fourteen winter olympics same in the black sea the same day as you can drive up and out stinson best slopes in the world. you know and really believe me and i am. people to experience this on. a course it's quite interesting to the fact that the games actually started today why is that well that's because there are twelve new events added since the vancouver games in twenty and of course everybody is talking about carrying the torch and who will win those magnificent medals that were unveiled to the various journalists yesterday and to talk about fortune telling let's speak to pull scott with a very interesting guest. seize the moment to see his life changed. about. by his mother in russia's far reached the seal pup was weak with hunger and vulnerable to predators his chances of survival were slim. fast forward three years and his life is now transformed. is the home of the rather shy seal now stuff they say that he was abandoned as a pup was rescued and then nurtured back

coming up, we'll talk to one of sochi's most famous natives, maria sharapova. it to new york. she was surprised with a ticket to see motown the musical. she didn't have a way to get to broadway but she has made it here thanks to our generous viewers. we'll catch up with her and her daughters. >> the road to broadwa stops through the "today" show. >> and tomorrow on "today," we'll all be wearing red to raise awareness about dangers of heart disease in women. if you're going to be on the plaza, be sure to wear your red as well. >> matt, that goes for you, too. don't forget to wear your red tomorrow. >> i might have to round up a little red in a hurry. meanwhile, one of the great events to watch in any games is the free style skiing. it's a blast. we have four members of team usa. we have maggie, julia, gus and josh. good morning, ladies and gentlemen. nice to see you all. >> thank you. >> this is something that you're making history here, right? have you even had time to think about that or does that just not even matter to you guys at this stage? it's a big deal

alexis and we also caught up with maria sharapova although she wasn't born here she did play a lot of the early tennesse and she says is the perfect place to host the olympics . swim in the black sea the same day as you can drive a. chance at best slopes in the world. really believe me and i think that every people experience. but it does seem like we are a world away from the palm trees the black sea but it is actually just a forty minute train ride all right away and down at the black sea we've been talking to many athletes who say they've been very impressed with the compact nature of the gates because there are villages actually very close to the venue where they'll be competing everything is small you know the village and everything it's closed. the ice rink is closed today in a big village we can go by wallach and there is not a big security so we feel free and we're fairly confident in the meantime the clock raiser who tory's taking towards the start of the opening ceremony which is tomorrow evening in the meantime the torch relay will continue its journey around sochi and it m

princess and rides today but also posses but it's the greatest tennis star maria sharapova. but excitement about which takes twenty fourteen. his fitness and i'm very impressed by what i've seen here in sochi i haven't been here for a year and when i arrive yesterday i was amazed when i finally saw all the stadiums continues. i really hope that everyone will enjoy the olympic games here and said she had friends ask them of august. a law forcing us to see upper house of repetition is the golden state on sunday could be some fireworks lights at eleven o'clock with this stadium that seats forty thousand people that will also be in full swing the hassles on friday the olympic ceremony is set to bring the great indian spectators from around the globe but the subject of many people's lives is not all gay rights and gone in the week i went to some tunes o' the day could lead to speak to the consumer the policy level is regarding how gay life really isn't much to add how the new anti gay bill read the facts that sentiment. thousands of athletes and visitors are expected to arrive th

there is not a big security so we feel free and we're fairly confident the russian tennis star maria sharapova is also in town and she has links to this part of the world too and in her opinion she says sochi is the perfect place to host the winter olympics same exact see same day as you can drive up and out against the best slopes in the world. i know that many believe me and i hope that everyone be able to experience. in the meantime the clocktower rosa who tory's taking towards the start of the opening ceremony which is tomorrow evening in the meantime the torch relay will continue its journey around sochi and finally we should note that even though the opening ceremony is tomorrow some advance have already started the qualification in the men's and women's slopestyle snowboarding has begun and the figure skating team event would also get underway so even though we're still waiting for the colder to be lit for some athletes sochi twenty fourteen is already up and running. meanwhile many western newspapers are featuring pictures of less than satisfactory conditions and saatchi whilst the pos

security so we feel we feel free and we feel confident and also the world famous tennis star maria sharapova added her comments on the excitement surrounding the twenty fourteen winter olympics same in the black sea the same day as you can drive an hour to the mountains in stinson the best slopes in the world and you know and really believe me and i hope that everyone will be able to experience this on. a course it's quite interesting to the fact that the games actually started today why is that well that's because there are twelve new events added since the vancouver games in twenty and of course everything about carrying the torch and who will win those magnificent medals that world to the various journalists yesterday. that was r.t. correspondent martin andrews from sochi and the sochi olympic olympics is also in the spotlight on tonight's politicking with larry king russian ambassador thursday kids play act and congressman dana rohrbacher both addressed the issue of safety at the winter games here is a look at what's to come the obvious first question with the opening ceremonies coming f

she was also in moscow earlier at the at the higher school of economics and also maria sharapova she is in town as well looking forward to the month of sporting activities that are to mess up with her and how excited she is to see the winter olympics here in sochi. the students and they're impressed by what i've seen in searching i hadn't been here for a year and when i arrived yesterday i was amazed when i finally saw all the stadiums and then yes i really hope that everyone will enjoy their limpid games here in such him. and martin aside from security one of the elephants in the room sort of the speaking is russia's anti-gay propaganda law that's been passed but i understand that you spoke with and met some of the members of the so cheesy l g b t community what do they have to say about it. that's right i think the main thing on everybody's lips regarding the community is a broad of the the anti-gay propaganda law that was brought in last year i went to my the only gay club in sochi to speak to the owner and it was interesting how they said that actually all the information all the

spoke to the famous tennis star maria sharapova about the excitement surrounding the winter olympics twenty fourteen. the students and i'm very impressed by what i've seen here in sochi i haven't been here for a year and when i arrived yesterday i was amazed when i finally saw all the stadiums and then use i really hope that everyone will enjoy the olympic games here in sochi. and so martin i understand the plans for the opening ceremonies are being kept tightly under wraps but has anything gotten out so far. you know absolutely nothing i've had friends some of them are volunteers they flew in from canada they were fortunate enough to see over hustle repartition as they call it in russian on sunday including some fireworks tonight at eleven o'clock the fish stadium that seats forty thousand people that will also be in full swing the rehearsals but of course they have actually heard nothing at all of course this is said to be the most expensive games in history at a price tag of fifty one billion dollars it's important that thomas who's the president of the i.o.c. he actually stated t

by the way, one more nugget that we're learning -- tennis star maria sharapova or sharapova as they call her here in sochi will also take part in the opening ceremonies representing russia. back to you. that's it for us. >> all right. looking forward to seeing you, jim. >>> google has become the second major company to speak out about russia's anti-gay law this morning. take a look at this. it's the home page you'll see if you go to google today. the rainbow me the making. 47,000 expected to watch from the stadium, billion on television worldwide. we're here with a sneak peek at russia's shining moment today, friday, february 7th, 2014. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is a special edition of "today" at the olympic winter games with matt lauer live from sochi, russia, and savannah guthrie, live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> and good morning. welcome to a special split edition of "today" on a friday morning. i'm matt lauer inside the olympic stadium where the opening ceremony will be held tonight. it's a look back over 1,000 years of russian history. we're starting 400 years ag

and maria sharapova ands a gnaw ray caw. i like borge and i love mackin row and connors. be number one. courrier and federer is an artist. >> we will go to the u.s. open together. >> i have seats. i have a box. >> well aren't you a bragger. let's talk about the state of the union. i will rifle through these three questions. as long as we hit all of them. was anyone rude or snubbed you? >> just the opposite. she said she would come back to the program. >> that's awesome. did president obama know were you there? >> you know, i have no idea. i have to believe somebody briefs him that for example willy and cory from duck dynasty was there. >> we got a picture of that. let's show it. it was ted cruz, senator cruz and newton gingrich. >> that's a great one. >> you were breaking bread. that's the ruth crist steak house. >> i invited everybody. we went to the dinner after the state of the union. willy gomert was there with his wife. and most of the team that traveled to put the show on, we all went together. i'm a loser. i'm a her met. i rarely go out. >> are you not a loser. >>

. >> maria sharapova.male athlete in the entire world. 23 million until endorsements. >> bet you didn't make that. does it bother you she took home so much more? she is not even the best tennis player. she is ranked 4 td. she makes the most because she is a good looking blonde. how unfair is that? i don't hear people complaining. people accept that. they accept movie stars and singers make millions, too. >> do you mind that they make millions of dollars? >> no it didn't occur to me. >> they have a talent and use it and they get made for it. >> does it bother you tiger woods made $78 million last year? >> no it doesn't bother me. if he can make it he needs to make it. >> what about business executives. oo too does bother you ceo's make millions and workers don't? >> yeah. i think everybody should be treated equal. they should make enough to be stable and comfortable. >> why does it bother people when ceo's are rich and okay when beyonce or tiger woods can be rich. >> we have all had success, we have been in

. >> but also, maria sharapova and azarenka.n artist. >> we're going to go to the u.s. open together. >> i have seats at the box. >> well, aren't you a bragger? i'm going to talk about the state of the union, as long as we hit all of the questions. was anyone rude or snubbed you at the state of the union? >> even sheila jackson, everybody was awesome. >> and i have to believe somebody briefs -- for example, willy and corey from duck dynasty were there. >> we got a picture of that, by the way. well, let's show it. it was ted cruz, senator cruz, newt and calista gingrich. at ruth chris steak house. >> i invited everybody as my guest. we went to dinner. and louie gohmert. i'm a loser, you know that. i'm a hermit, i rarely go out. all i do is work and hang out with my kids on the tennis court. but i've been going out lately and having the time of my life. this dinner was so unique and special and so fun. i loved willy and corey and cruz was so great. >> that was one of the questions, overall the best part of your trip. would you say

. >> truly out of this world and plus we talk with tennis star ma maria sharapova. >> that flame looksutiful. >> happy valentine's day. >> bye, bye. [ sports announcer ] here's another one, alyson dudek. hales corners, wisconsin. nice pass by alyson dudek. can she hang on to that spot? and she does! [ male announcer ] with the u-verse wireless receiver, your tv goes where you take it, allowing inspiration to follow. ♪ [ dad ] looks pretty good, right? [ girl ] yeah. [ male announcer ] switch to u-verse and add a wireless receiver today. ♪ [ male announcer ] switch to u-verse and add a wireless receiver today. >> how about these right here. >> well miley. that is just one of the 3 valentine's crushes of slope style sweeper sweepers. biggest loser matt and al. finally on things go very wrong. plus katerina you untold tom cruise tale. >> frolic in the freezing black sea. do i have the stones to join the walrus club? sochi walrus club researching forward insanity. 50 degree black sea. did i answer the call? welcome to an extra special edition of "access hollywood", hollywood", from russia

among them tennis player sochi native maria sharapova and finally the lighting of the olympic cauldrona message to the world to let the games begin. and, yes, while i was watching all that went on last night, i'll be honest, i was really looking at the fashion of the night. for us ladies we want to do a quick recap of the winners and some surprises of last night's choices. germany certainly standing out with their rainbow bright uniforms. i'm being kind when i say standing out. also, bermuda. many people are wondering, did they lose their luggage donning flip-flops and shorts? bermuda shorts, of course, to walk into the world arena last night. by the way, the temperature was around 40 degrees and, finally, team usa, because their uniforms when they were first revealed a couple of weeks ago, i know that there were some people questioning the busy design, but i know when i watched them walk out en masse, i thought it was spectacular. it was "the star-spangled banner" and a source of pride. i thought it was beautiful and stunning. so i'll move on to some of the bigger news, a big tweet he

this time tennis star and native maria sharapova had the honor.they lit the flame formally opening the sochi winter games. in sochi's main square tourists from all over the world shared russia's moment of glory. >> it's been really fun. i really enjoyed it. people have been really friendly toward me as one of the few americans, which i've been surprised about. it's really nice. my first time at the olympics and it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience, i think. >> reporter: now anthony and vinita, some interesting things took place. there was one obvious glitch at the opening ceremonies. there were these five massive lit snowflakes which were to open up as the oh u olympic rings but the broadcasters were very cleverer, they switched to rehearsal footage to cover the mistake. back to you. >>> the olympics are a prime target for terrorists. tens of thousands are taking no chances in protecting the games. in turkey police are holding a ukrainian man saying he tried to hijack a plane bound for turkey to sochi. we have more with elizabeth palmer. good morn