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12 stunning winter sports events will make their debuts at the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, taking place in Russia from 7 to 23 February. This means 12 more gold medals will be up for grabs!
The composition of the Olympic Programme is systematically reviewed after each edition of the Games to keep it relevant and appealing to younger generations. Great efforts have been made to modernize the Olympic Games to remain in tune with the latest trends and developments in world sport, and the International Olympic Committee works closely with each international federation at the Winter Games to offer the best possible sports programme that appeals to all audiences.
Appearing at the Olympic Winter Games for the first time will be snowboard slopestyle (men’s and women’s);ski slopestyle (men’s and women’s); ski halfpipe (men’s and women’s); and women’s ski jumping.
There will also be new sports formats, with men and women competing together for the first time in a figure skating team event (mixed); luge team relay (mixed); biathlon mixed relay (mixed); and snowboard parallel slalom (men’s and women’s).
Snowboard slopestyle – Men’s and Women’s
Four slopestyle events will be displayed during the Sochi Games. Two events in snowboard for women and men, two events in ski, for women and men. Slopestyle is urban, it is contemporary, it is super-dynamic. The skiers and snowboarders perform a number of tricks all along the course, on rails, ramps, jumps, you will see incredible action on the field of play in slopestyle.
Ski halfpipe – Men’s and Women’s
So far, we’ve seen snowboarders in the Half-Pipe. For the first time in Sochi, we will have the opportunity to see skiers as well. We’ll see massive jumps, unbelievable tricks; you can expect a lot of action in the half-pipe.
Women’s ski jumping – Women’s
In ski-jumping, one very important addition to the programme: we will have the opportunity to see women competing. The competition will be on the normal hill. With this event, we now have a programme which is gender-balanced. Women and men compete in each discipline of the winter programme.
Figure skating team event – Mixed
In the figure-skating team event, the teams will be comprised of six skaters, one man one woman, one pair and one ice dance couple. Each of them will perform a routine, the highest aggregated score wins the gold medal.
Luge team relay – Mixed
In luge, a very interesting new format: The mixed team relay. Each team will be composed of three sleds : one woman single, one man single, and one double. The principle is the following. A lugeur waits at the starting gate, while another one is already on the track. Once the lugeur on the track hits a pad on the Finish Line, the gate will open for the next lugeur to come on the track. The ranking is determined based on the addition of the times of the three sleds.
Biathlon mixed relay – Mixed
The teams will be comprised of two men and two women. Women will open, each of them completing a six-kilometre leg. They’ll be followed by two men, completing 7.5 kilometres each.
Snowboard parallel slalom – Men’s and Women’s
In addition to the existing parallel event in Snowboard, we have added in Sochi the parallel slalom. It’s a tighter course, gates are closer. The principle remains the same: two snowboarders fighting to get first to the final gate.
