What Winter Sports Are in the Olympics?
Wondering what winter sports are in the Olympics? Here’s a list of all the sports that will be featured in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
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Winter Olympics
The Winter Olympics are a major international sporting event that features some of the most popular winter sports from around the world. Some of the sports that are featured in the Winter Olympics include skiing, snowboarding, and ice hockey.
Winter Olympics History
The first Winter Olympics were held in Chamonix, France in 1924. Since then, the Winter Games have been held 20 times in cities across the globe. The most recent Winter Olympics were held in PyeongChang, South Korea in 2018. The next Winter Olympics will be held in Beijing, China in 2022.
Alpine skiing, bobsleigh, curling, figure skating, freestyle skiing, ice hockey, luge, nordic combined, short track speed skating, skeleton, ski jumping, and speed skating are all sports that are currently contested at the Winter Olympics. Some of these sports have been featured at every single Winter Olympics since 1924, while others have been added and removed over the years.
The Winter Olympics are typically held two years after the Summer Olympics. This allows for a four-year gap between each time the same city hosts both the Summer and Winter Games.
How Winter Sports Are Chosen for the Olympics
The process of adding or removing a sport from the Winter Olympic lineup is overseen by the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Program Commission, which meets every four years, two years prior to the start of the relevant Winter Olympics.
The IOC Program Commission is in charge of evaluating each sport on a number of factors, including popularity, universality, health and safety concerns, and costs for both athletes and organizers. They also consider whether a sport is “widely practiced” in at least 75 countries and on three continents.
After evaluating all of these factors, the IOC Program Commission makes a recommendation to the IOC Executive Board, which then vote on whether or not to add or remove the sport from the Winter Olympics lineup.
Winter Sports
The Olympic Winter Games are a major international multi-sport event held once every four years for sports practiced on snow and ice. The first Winter Olympics, the 1924 Winter Olympics, were held in Chamonix, France. A total of15 sports and 109 events will be contested at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. These sports include alpine skiing, biathlon, bobsleigh, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, freestyle skiing, ice hockey, luge, nordic combined, short track speed skating, skeleton, ski jumping, snowboarding, and speed skating.
Alpine Skiing
Alpine skiing, or downhill skiing, is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. It is practised in countries with snow-covered mountains, and has the largest number of disciplines of any Olympic winter sport.
Biathlon
The Biathlon is a winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. It is one of the most popular sports in the Winter Olympics, and is contested by men and women.
The sport first originated in Norway, where it was used as a training exercise for military personnel. It was then adopted as a competitive sport in the early 20th century, and made its debut appearance in the 1924 Winter Olympics.
The Biathlon has since become a mainstay of the Winter Olympic Games, and continues to be one of the most popular sports with spectators.
Bobsled
Bobsleigh or bobsled is a winter sport in which teams of two or four teammates make timed runs down narrow, twisting, banked iced tracks in a gravity-powered sled. The timed runs are combined to calculate the final score.
Bobsleigh competitions have been held at the Winter Olympics since 1924, and they were featured in the first-ever television broadcast of the Games in 1936. Bobsleigh remains a popular sport in many winter-sport nations, and is governed by the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF), founded in 1923.
Cross-Country Skiing
Cross-country skiing is one of the most common winter sports in the world. It’s also one of the oldest, with evidence that people have been cross-country skiing for more than 4,000 years. Today, it’s a popular form of recreation and exercise, as well as a competitive sport.
Cross-country skiing is typically done on groomed trails, though it can also be done off-trail in backcountry conditions. The equipment consists of skis, poles, and Boots. Skis are usually divided into two categories: classic and skating. Classic skis are longer and have a narrower width, while skating skis are shorter and have a wider width. Poles are used for balance and for pushing off when skiing.
There are two main types of cross-country skiing: traditional cross-country skiing and skate skiing. Traditional cross-country skiing is often called “diagonal stride” because it involves kicking one foot forward while gliding on the other foot. Skate skiing is similar to ice skating or inline skating, and it involves pushing off from the side of each ski.
Cross-country skiing can be done recreationally or competitively. Recreational skiing is often done on groomed trails at parks or ski resorts. It can also be done in the backcountry, where there are no groomed trails. Competitive cross-country skiing includes several different events, such as sprints, relays, mass start races, and distance races.
Curling
At the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea, there will be ten different sports contested, as well as ninety-eight events taking place. Curling is one of the sports that will be contested at the 2018 Games.
In curling, two teams of four players each take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones across the ice towards a target area. The purpose is to get your team’s stones closest to the center of the target than your opponent’s stones. Points are scored for each stone that is closer to the center than any of your opponent’s stones. The game is played over ten “ends,” which are similar to innings in baseball. Each team has eight stones (called “stones”) that they deliver in each end. The team with the most points at the end of ten ends wins the game.
Though it may look easy, curling is actually a very strategic and tactical sport. The injuries that can occur are also very real; players have been known to break bones, pull muscles, and even fall headfirst onto the ice!
If you’re interested in trying curling, it’s not as difficult as you may think. There are many curling clubs across North America that offer beginner classes and leagues. You can also watch curling on television; it will be broadcast on NBCSN and CNBC during the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Figure Skating
Figure skating has been a part of the Winter Olympics since the 1924 Games in Chamonix, France. It is currently one of the most popular events at the Winter Olympics, drawing large television audiences and arena crowds.
There are three main disciplines in figure skating: singles, pairs, and ice dancing. In each discipline, skaters perform a routine consisting of various jumps, spins, lifts, and footwork sequences. They are judged on their technical proficiency as well as the artistic impression of their skating.
The most common jumps in figure skating are the toe loop, Salchow, loop, flip, and Lutz. Skaters must also be proficient in various spins, such as the sit spin, camel spin, and axel. Ice dancers must also be skilled in dance movements such as the tango and foxtrot.
In singles skating, skaters compete individually. In pairs skating, skaters perform lifts and throws as well as jumps and spins together. In ice dancing, couples must skate to music and perform various compulsory dances as well as original choreography.
Competition at the Olympic Games is held in all three disciplines: singles (men’s and women’s), pairs (men’s, women’s, and mixed), and ice dancing (men’s/women’s). The top skaters from around the world qualify for the Olympic Games through a series of international competitions leading up to the Games.
Freestyle Skiing
Freestyle skiing is a form of skiing that emphasizes tricks and aerials. It includes moguls, aerials, dual moguls, ski cross, half-pipe and slopestyle. Freestyle skiing was first included in the Olympics in 1992.
Ice Hockey
Ice hockey is a contact team sport played on ice, usually in a rink, in which two teams of skaters use their sticks to shoot a vulcanized rubber puck into their opponent’s net to score goals. The sport is known to be fast-paced and physical, with players often testing their strength and endurance on the ice.
Luge
Luge (/lʊdʒ/) is a winter sport in which a person rides a small sled, known as a luge (/lʊdʒ/), down a icy track. It is performed solo or in teams of two or four.
Lugers start the race either from a standing start or in most cases, from a running start. Races are timed to the thousandth of of a second, making it necessary for competitors to wear full-body suits that streamline their shape.
Most tracks include at least one curve known as a banked turn or compression turn, where centrifugal force and friction combine to help the luge navigate the turn. Tracks can also include uphill sections known as upshifts and straightaways where lugers can reach speeds in excess of 90 kilometers per hour (56 mph).
The sport of luge was first developed in the 18th century in the Austrian-German border region. Today it is practiced around the world, but competitive international events are limited to European nations, Canada, United States, Russia and countries associated with the International Luge Federation (FIL).
Nordic Combined
Nordic combined is a winter sport in which athletes compete in both cross-country skiing and ski jumping. Athletes earn points in both disciplines and the athlete with the most points at the end of the competition is the winner. The Nordic combined event was actually included in the first Winter Olympics in 1924, making it one of the oldest winter Olympic sports.
In the Nordic combined event, athletes first compete in a ski jumping event. The score from the ski jump is then used to create a start order for the cross-country skiing portion of the event. The athlete with the best score from the ski jump begins first, followed by the athlete with the second best score, and so on. This ensures that all athletes have an equal chance to win, regardless of their ski jumping ability.
Nordic combined is often considered one of the most challenging Olympic sports because it requires athletes to be proficient in two very different disciplines. Cross-country skiing is a endurance sport that tests an athlete’s stamina, while ski jumping is a precision sport that requires split-second timing and perfect form.
Short Track Speed Skating
Short track speed skating is an Olympic sport that was introduced in the 1992 Winter Games. It is a fast-paced, high-speed race around an oval track. The skaters must complete laps in a certain amount of time and the first person to cross the finish line wins.
There are four events in short track speed skating: the 500 meter, the 1,000 meter, the 1,500 meter, and the 3,000 meter relay. The 500 meter is considered to be the sprint event, while the 1,500 meter is considered to be the long distance event. Short track speed skating is often compared to roller derby because of its aggressive nature and crashes are not uncommon.
Some of the most successful short track speed skaters hail from South Korea, which has won more medals in this sport than any other country. Apolo Anton Ohno is one of the most successful American short track speed skaters, winning eight medals throughout his career.
Skeleton
Skeleton is a winter sport in which athletes compete by racing down a track on a sled while lying face-down. It was first introduced as an official Olympic sport at the 1928 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland, and has been included in every Winter Olympics since.
Athletes start the race by lying on their sleds at the top of the track, then propeling themselves down the track using their hands and feet. They reaches speeds of up to 80 miles per hour (129 kilometers per hour) by the time they reach the bottom of the track.
The sleds used in skeleton are made of fiberglass or carbon fiber and have metal runners (the part that slides on the ice). Athletes lie on their stomachs on the sled, with their head first, and steer using their body weight and a toboggan-style handle.
Ski Jumping
Ski jumping has been included in the Winter Olympics since 1924, and it continues to be a popular and thrilling sport. The athletes ski down a long, sloped ramp known as the in-run, then launch themselves off a jump and attempt to land as far as possible. The skier with the longest jump is the winner.
Ski jumping is considered one of the most dangerous Olympic sports, due to the high speeds and long distances involved. In recent years, there have been several major accidents in ski jumping competitions, leading to calls for increased safety measures. Despite these dangers, ski jumping remains a popular sport both at the Olympics and elsewhere.
Snowboarding
Snowboarding debuted as an official sport in the 1998 Nagano Olympics. Up to that point, it had been a demonstration sport in the 1988 Calgary and 1992 Albertville Games.
Today, there are five events in Olympic snowboarding. Three are for men--slopestyle, parallel giant slalom, and halfpipe--and two are for women--slopestyle and halfpipe.
Slopestyle was added for both men and women in the 2014 Sochi Olympics, while parallel giant slalom made its debut in the 2006 Turin Games.
Speed Skating
Speed Skating is a winter sport in which competitors skate around a track at high speeds. It is one of the most popular Olympic sports, with events for both men and women.
There are two main types of speed skating: short track and long track. Short track is held on a smaller, oval-shaped track and features races of distances between 500m and 1500m. Long track is held on a 400m oval track and features races of distances between 500m and 10000m.
Speed skating is a relatively new sport, having only been added to the Winter Olympics in 1924. However, it has quickly become one of the most popular events, with millions of people tuning in to watch the races every four years.
Winter Olympics 2018
The 2018 Winter Olympics will be held in Pyeongchang, South Korea from February 9-25. This will be the first time that South Korea has hosted the Winter Olympics, and the second time that it has hosted the Olympics (the first time was the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul). A total of 102 events in 15 sports will be held during the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Winter Olympics 2018 Schedule
The 2018 Winter Olympics will be held in Pyeongchang, South Korea from February 9-25.
Below is the schedule for the 2018 Winter Olympics, which includes both the sporting events and the opening and closing ceremonies. All times are in Eastern Standard Time (EST).
February 8: Opening Ceremony – 8pm EST
February 9: Cross-Country Skiing, Biathlon – 4am EST
curling – 8pm EST
February 10: Alpine Skiing – 4am EST
figure skating – 8pm EST
February 11: Snowboarding – 4am EST
speed skating – 8pm EST
Winter Olympics 2018 Locations
The 2018 Winter Olympics will be held in PyeongChang, South Korea from February 9-25. This will be the second time that South Korea has hosted the Winter Olympics, the first being in 1988 in Calgary, Canada.
There are a total of 102 events taking place across 15 different sports. Seven of those sports are new to the 2018 Winter Olympics, which means that a total of 84 medals will be up for grabs!
The 2018 Winter Olympics will feature alpine skiing, biathlon, bobsleigh, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, freestyle skiing, ice hockey, luge, nordic combined, short track speed skating, skeleton, ski jumping, snowboarding, and speed skating.
Winter Olympics 2018 Medals
One of the most prestigious sporting events in the world, the Winter Olympics, is held every four years. The athletes who compete in this event have trained for years in order to have the chance to represent their country and win a coveted Olympic medal.
The 2018 Winter Olympics will be held in Pyeongchang, South Korea from February 9-25. This will be the first time that South Korea has ever hosted the Winter Olympics, and the second time that they have hosted the Olympics (they previously hosted the Summer Olympics in 1988).
There are a total of 15 different sports that will be contested at the 2018 Winter Olympics. These sports are: alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, freestyle skiing, ice hockey, luge, nordic combined, short track speed skating, skeleton, ski jumping, snowboarding, speed skating, and bobsleigh.
Alpine Skiing: This sport includes Downhill, Super-G, Giant Slalom, Slalom, and Parallel Giant Slalom.
Biathlon: This sport includes Sprint, Pursuit, Individual race (also called Mass start), and Relay race.
Cross-Country Skiing: This sport includes Sprint Freestyle race (also called Free technique), Individual race (also called Classical technique), Team sprint race (also called Free technique), and Relay race.
Curling: This sport includes Mixed doubles curling and Traditional curling.
Figure Skating: This sport includes Single skating (for both men and women), Pairs skating , Ice dancing , and Synchronized skating .
Freestyle Skiing: This sport includes Moguls , Aerials , Ski cross , Halfpipe , Slopestyle , and Big air .
Ice Hockey: This sport includes Men’s tournament , Women’s tournament , and Mixed doubles tournament .
Luge: This sport includes Singles luge , Doubles luge , and Team relay luge .
Nordic Combined: This sport includes Individual Gundersen NH / 10 km FT (also called Normal hill / 10 km free technique), Sprint HS / 2.5 km FT (also called Large hill / 2.5 km free technique), Team HS / 4 x 5 km FT (also called Large hill/ 4 x 5 km free technique relay).
Short Track Speed Skating: This sport includes 500 m Men / Women , 1000 m Men / Women , 1500 m Men / Women , 5000 m relay Men / Women , and 3000 m relay men .
Skeleton: This sport is only for men or women .
Ski Jumping: This sport include Normal hill individual NH I event for both men and women)and Large hill individual LH I event for both men and women)
Snowboarding :This sport include Snowboard cross SBX for both men anfd women ), Parallel giant slalom PGS for both men anfd women ),Halfpipe HP for bothi meN AND WOMEN ), Big air BA Snowboarding makes its Olympic debut at these Games.,And finally parallel slalom PSLfor bot MIANNANDWOMEN)
Speed Skating :This sport include 500 m M/W)1000m M/W 1500m M/W 10000 m M mixed 10000m W mixed team pursuit 4x500m mixed team sprint M/W 3x1000m )
