Tonga's bare‑chested flag-bearer for its one‑man Winter Olympics team was given a warm reception by the opening ceremony crowd in sub‑zero temperatures.

Pita Taufatofua emerged from the tunnel covered in his trademark body oil and wearing a grass skirt, sandals and a huge smile as he led the Tongan delegation around the arena.

The Oceania gold medallist in taekwondo made global headlines in 2016 with a shirtless entrance as the country's flagbearer at the Rio Olympics.

The 34-year-old is the second Tongan athlete ever to qualify for the Winter Olympics.

Source: Radio NZ