BBC sports presenter Clare Balding begins her coverage of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, today, appearing in a series of ice-cool official publicity photographs. The 43-year-old Brit, who also covered the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games for the BBC, has just introduced the opening ceremony, shrugging off a number of Twitter trolls who hounded her for attending the games, given Russia's abhorrent stance on gay rights. Both Balding and her long-term partner Alice Arnold - who were united in a civil ceremony in London in 2006 - have been standing by her decision to present the games, both on the social networking site and off.
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Was criticised for attending games given Russia's abhorrent anti-gay laws
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The British presenter began presenting opening ceremony this afternoon
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Both Balding and long-term partner Alice Arnold stood by her decision
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Twitter has now been flooded with support for the presenter, 43
Any Twitter trolls were drowned out by fans as @placeholder began presenting the Winter Games from Sochi this afternoon