Sochi 2014 Olympic games

In the winter of 2014, the sights of millions of people around the world will be fixed on Sochi, where the first Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Russia's history will take place. However, the most important aspect at the Games will be not the ultra-modern sports venues or the new records which we will witness. The most important aspects in Sochi will be the spectators. After all, the Games in Sochi are the Games for everyone. It is your emotions that will fill the stadiums and sports arenas with life. It is your support that will inspire the world's best athletes to new athletic feats.

Snowboard There are ten snowboarding events in the Olympic Games: mens and womens events in the halfpipe, parallel giant slalom, snowboard cross, slopestyle, and parallel slalom. The first Olympic competitions in the parallel slalom and slopestyle will be held in Sochi in The halfpipe competition is held on a special halfpipe-shaped course. Using the speed gained on the slope, snowboarders come up over the rim on the other side of the pipe and perform acrobatic aerial tricks.

Ice Hockey Ice hockey games take place on an ice rink. A puck made of vulcanized rubber is used. Before top level matches, the puck is frozen in order to reduce friction on the ice surface, therefore increasing its speed. The game is a competition between two teams attempting to hit the puck into their opponent's goal using sticks, while preventing the puck from entering their own goal. The winning team is the one that hits more pucks into their opponent's goal.

Freestyle Skiing The mogul event is a descent down a bumpy slope. Athletes are required to perform two jumps on their way through the course. The competitors receiving the highest score for their overall performance are declared the winners. Scores are determined by judges who evaluate how well the moguls are navigated and the quality and difficulty of the jumps. Judges also add points for speed according to a special formula.

Speed Skating Speed skating at the Olympic Games consists of ten individual distance events and two team pursuit races. Men compete in 500, 1000, 1500, 5000, and 10,000 meter events, and complete 8 laps in the team pursuit race. Women compete in 500, 1000, 1500, 3000, and 5000 meter events and in a 6-lap team pursuit race. That means that 12 sets of medals are awarded in speed skating. In the individual events, skaters race in pairs on separate tracks (the inner and outer lanes). Athletes switch lanes at every lap in order to skate an equal distance. The 500 meter race is skated twice, with both races taking place on the same day. The final result is based on the total time taken over the two races.

Presentation by Egor Linev