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Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games
Winter Olympic Events 2010
Ever wondered what events are included in a Winter Olympics and what the disciplines of each of those events are? Below is a list and a brief description of those that will be contested at this years Vancouver Winter Olympics.
| Sport |
Description |
| Alpine Skiing |
Athletes make fast turn through gates chasing fastest overall times in downhill (the classic speed test on the longest and least winding alpine course, marked by red flags); super-G (a hybrid of the downhill and giant slalom where a skier must pass between gates that are marked by alternating red and blue flags) ; slalom/giant slalom (a skier makes two runs down two different courses on the same day passing through a set number of gates or be disqualified - the slalom demands the sharpest turns of all alpine events and is on the shorted course, the giant slalom is a longer, faster version of the slalom); super combined (involves a single downhill run and one super giant slalom, both contested on the same day) |
| Biathlon |
Cross country skiing and rifle shooting |
| Bobsleigh |
Teams make timed run down a twisting, iced track in a gravity powered sled |
| Cross Country Skiing |
One of the most grueling sports with individual sprint, 15km interval start, team sprint, 15/30km pursuit, 30/50km mass start and 4x5/4x10km relay |
| Curling |
Similar to lawn bowls where teams of four slide heavy, polished granite stones down a sheet of ice towards a target (called the house) while two sweepers clear the ice of any debris |
| Figure Skating |
Includes 4 gold medal events - singles for men and women, pairs and ice dance for couples |
| Freestyle Skiing |
Combines speed, showmanship and aerial maneuvers on skis - aerials (ski off jumps and perform flips and twists); moguls (navigate around bumps and perform tricks) and ski cross (four competitors race over jumps, rollers and banks) |
| Ice Hockey |
Fast team sport of hockey played on ice ensuring drama, rough and tumble |
| Luge |
Competitors lie face up and feet first on a sled (luge) and speed down a slippery ice track |
| Nordic Combined |
Combines ski-jumping and cross country skiing |
| Short Track Speed Skating |
Ice skating where competitors compete against each other not the clock |
| Skeleton |
Competitors lie on their stomach on a tiny sled and plunge down a steep and icy track |
| Ski Jumping |
Skiers race down hill on a run with a take-off ramp to see how far they can launch themselves |
| Snowboard |
Includes three events (i) parallel giant slalom where two competitors race downhill while going around gates (ii) the halfpipe in which competitors perform tricks and jumps in a U shaped trench and (iii) snowboard cross where four competitors race down a course studded with jumps, bumps and huge turns |
| Speed Skating |
Time racing in set pairs over a set distance - 500m, 1000m, 1500m, 5000m, 10000m and 5000m team pursuit (men); 500m, 1000m, 1500m, 3000m, 5000m and 3000m team pursuit (women) |
Need more information? Simply click on the relevant link to get a more detailed explanation.