Olympics-First gold of the Games lets athletes shine over politics

By Philip O'Connor, Karolos Grohmann and Mari Saito

BEIJING (Reuters) - Norway nabbed the first gold medal of the Winter Games on Saturday as the politics dominating the Beijing Olympics began to make room for the snowy feats of the world's best athletes.

Norwegian Therese Johaug nL8N2UG08K powered to victory to take the gold medal in the women's skiathlon race, well ahead of Russian Natalia Nepryaeva and Austria's Teresa Stadlober, who snagged the bronze medal.

Further back in 43rd place was Dinigeer Yilamujiang, a 20-year-old cross-country skier whose role as a final torchbearer for China in the opening ceremony continued to make waves.

The selection of Yilamujiang nL8N2UG08W, from Altay in China's western Xinjiang region, as one of two final torchbearers came as many western nations diplomatically boycotted the Games over China's treatment of Uyghurs and members of other Muslim minority groups. China rejects allegations of human rights abuses.

The International Olympic Committee on Saturday insisted Yilamujiang's ethnicity had nothing to do with her selection.

"She has every right, wherever she comes from, whatever her background, to compete... and to take part in any ceremony," said IOC spokesman Mark Adams.

Chinese president Xi Jinping, who triumphantly opened the Games on Friday night in a partially-filled Bird's Nest stadium, continued his diplomatic push on the Games' sidelines.

GROUNDBREAKING ALLIANCE

The day after forming a groundbreaking alliance with Russian President Vladimir Putin against the West, Xi met with leaders of Serbia, Egypt, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan ahead of a Lunar New Year-themed banquet at Beijing's Great Hall of the People.

Toasting his fellow leaders, Xi expressed "heartfelt thanks to