Heat-scorched Turkmens open winter sports palace

The heat-scorched desert nation of Turkmenistan has opened a winter sports complex in a lavish ceremony overseen by the country's authoritarian president.

Some 10,000 people waving white and green balloons packed the arena to capacity Wednesday evening to watch an opening show of performers singing songs in praise of the president and a display by international figure skaters and circus artists.

Turkmenistan, which gained independence amid the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, has never taken part in the Winter Olympics, but plans to send a team to participate in the Sochi 2014 Games in southern Russia.

The weather in this largely desert nation varies between warm and blistering for most of the year. Snow is a rare sight.