Winter Olympics 2018 flame lighting ceremony mocked as ‘exceptionally phallic’ as cauldron is lit by ‘giant robot fire penis’

THE Winter Olympics torch lighting ceremony was mocked as viewers said the giant metal rings used to ignite the cauldron looked like a "robot fire penis".

Millions watched as torchbearer Kim Yuna lowered the flame to an "icicle mound" at the climax of today's spectacular opening ceremony in Pyeongchang.

13

Moments later a rod-shaped steel erection burst from underground, and flames shot up the 30 rings to the lip of the cauldron.

Stunned viewers watching on television around the world had only one thing on their minds.

One Twitter user wrote: "Why did South Korea choose to light the Olympic torch with some sort of flaming robot penis?"

Another said: "Exceptionally phallic lighting of the torch #OpeningCeremony"

13

13

13

13

13

South Korean figure skater Kim, won gold in Vancouver in 2010 and silver in Sochi four years later, was given the honour to light the Olympic flame in her home country - always a highlight of an opening ceremony.

She performed a short skating routine before receiving the torch at the end of a relay that included action movie hero Jackie Chan earlier in the day.

Her big moment came in front of 35,000 fans in the stadium including a 200-strong North Korean cheerleading squad.

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

Televison viewers around the world had only one thing on their minds

Spectators sat on heated seats in -3C weather as some of the 2,900 athletes from 92 countries paraded into the arena.

Competitors from North and South Korea entered under a single flag in a show of unity.

MOST READ IN WORLD NEWS

FATAL DUST

Horror rise of lethal Frankenstein drug…it’s found in vapes & can kill instantly

MEGA HEIST

Watch as gang blow up museum door & steal ancient Golden Helmet before vanishing

WU SERIOUS?

CIA now says Covid DID leak from lab in U-turn after yrs of denial under Biden

TWIST OF FATE

I was minutes away from being executed at Auschwitz - then luck saved my life

Skeleton champ Lizzy Yarnold led the largest ever British team at a Winter Olympics – 59 athletes.

And in another significant display, the sister of the North's despot Kim Jong-un was in the grandstand alongside the South's leaders and US Vice-President Mike Pence.

Coverage of the Pyeongchang Games is live on the BBC and Eurosport with daily highlights on YouTube.

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.