Olympic Opening Ceremonies 2018: Expected Performers, Flag-Bearers and Athletes

The 2018 Winter Olympics will descend upon Pyeongchang on Friday as the competition's opening ceremony marks the beginning of this year's showcase in South Korea.

Thousands of athletes from more than 90 countries will take part in the 2018 Winter Games, and the Parade of Nations will be our first chance to get a glimpse at the majority of those competing.

Each country will have one, or in some cases two flag-bearers ready to lead their respective country out at Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium, many of whom will be considered their nation's strongest bet for silverware.

The 2018 Winter Olympics will also mark a first as South and North Korea prepare to contend under a unified banner and will march out with the Korea Unification Flag on Friday.

The opening ceremony will feature performances typical of some South Korean traditions and culture, as well as some of the nation's top performers headlining.

Date: Friday, February 9

Time: 11 a.m. GMT/ 6 a.m. ET

TV Info: BBC Two (UK), Eurosport (UK), NBC Sports (U.S.)

Live Stream: Eurosport Player (UK), NBCOlympics.com (U.S.)

Announced Flag-Bearers

Albania: Suella Mehelli, Alpine Skiing

Andorra: Irineu Esteve Altimiras, Cross-country Skiing

Austria: Anna Veith, Alpine Skiing

Azerbaijan: Patrick Brachner, Alpine Skiing

Belgium: Seppe Smits, Snowboarding

Bolivia: Simon Breitfuss Kammerlander, Alpine Skiing

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Elvedina Muzaferija, Alpine Skiing

Brazil: Edson Bindilatti, Bobsleigh

Bulgaria: Radoslav Yankov, Snowboarding

Canada: Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, Figure Skating

Chile: Henrik von Appen, Alpine Skiing

Croatia: Natko Zrncic-Dim, Alpine Skiing

Czech Republic: Eva Samkova, Snowboarding

Denmark: Elena Moller Rigas, Speedskating

Ecuador: Klaus Jungbluth Rodriguez, Cross-country Skiing

Eritrea: Shannon Ogbani-Abeda, Alpine Skiing

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: Stavre Jada, Cross-country Skiing

France: Martin Fourcade, Biathlon

Israel: Alexei Bychenko, Figure skating

Italy: Arianna Fontana, Short Track Speedskating

Japan: Noriaki Kasai, Ski Jumping

Kazakhstan: Abzal Azhgaliyev, Short Track Speedskating

Kosovo: Albin Tahiri, Alpine Skiing

Latvia: Daumants Dreiskens, Bobsleigh

Lithuania: Tomas Kaukenas, Biathlon

Malaysia: Julian Yee, Figure skating

Mexico: Sarah Schleper, Alpine Skiing

Monaco: Rudy Rinaldi, Bobsleigh

Mongolia: Achbadarkh Batmunkh, Cross-country Skiing

Netherlands: Jan Smeekens, Speedskating

Norway: Emil Hegle Svendsen, Biathlon

Olympic Athletes From Russia: IOC Volunteer

Poland: Zbigniew Brodka, Speedskating

Romania: Marius Ungureanu, Biathlon

San Marino: Alessandro Mariotti, Alpine Skiing

Serbia: Nevena Ignjatovic, Alpine Skiing

Slovakia: Veronika Velez-Zuzulova, Alpine Skiing

Slovenia: Vesna Fabjan, Cross-country Skiing

Spain: Lucas Eguibar, Snowboarding

Taiwan: Lien Te-An, Luge

Tonga: Pita Taufatofua

Preview

Among the names set to headline the opening ceremony performances is Ha Hyun-woo, lead singer of South Korean indie rock band Guckkasten, and Ahn Ji-young, one half of female K-Pop duo Bolbbalgan4.

Tamar Herman of Billboard.com referred to reports from Korean broadcaster YTN Star and newspaper Korea Joongang Daily to confirm their participation, although it's believed some of the acts taking part have been kept secret.

Jennywill reported for Korean music website AllKPop.com native star Baekhyun will sing his country's national anthem to kick off events alongside 25 school students from the Areumdeuri Chorus and the Multi-Cultural Children Chorus. 

The opening ceremony will also feature a performance from Korean R&B singer Insooni, who made the Winter Olympics' torch relay song and official theme, "Let Everyone Shine":

Jennywill also reported South Korean boy band VIXX will be present to perform 2017 release "Shangri La."

Those in attendance will hope the musical performances are enough to warm their spirits, as ABC reported on the desperately low temperatures affecting Pyeongchang:

One in particular who'll want to cover up is sole Tongan representative Pita Taufatofua, who will one again serve as flag-bearer for his country two years after his shirtless outing caught attention at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Taufatofua has made the transition from Taekwondo to cross-country skiing for the Winter Games, but he warned fans not to expect as much skin this time around in a recent interview with the Press Association (h/t Stuff.co.nz): "I want to still be alive for my race. It's going to be freezing, so I will be keeping nice and warm."