2014 winter olympic guide

Week-Week, 2014

VIEWER’S GUIDE

cover page Pictured: Julia Mancuso and Shaun White are just two of the many athletes who will compete for the gold medal in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia from February 6-23.

2 Major Venues 3 Cover Story 4 Alpine Skiing 5 Snowboarding 6 Figure Skating 7 Speed Skating 8 Ski Jumping 8 Freestyle Skiing 9 Ice Hockey 10 Short Track 11 Bobsled 12 Nordic Combined 12 Biathlon13 Curling 13 Skeleton 14 Cross-Country Skiing 14 Luge 15 Quiz 16 Event Schedule 17 Event Schedule18 Listings

Our exclusive 2014 Winter Olympics Viewer’s Guide features details on all of the sporting events and venues,profiles of the event’s most impressive athletes, a Calendar of Events, interesting Olympicfacts and much more!

SoCHI oLyMpIC pArk (CoASTAL CLuSTEr)•Fisht Olympic stadium Sports: Opening and closing ceremonies New or existing: New Capacity: 40,000 Cost: $603.5 million opened: 2013 Future use: Home of the Russian National Football team and host site of the 2018 FIFA World Cup (Soccer)

•BOlshOy ice dOme Sports: Hockey New or existing: New Capacity: 12,000 Cost: $180 million opened: 2012 Future use: A sports arena and concert venue

•iceBerg skating palace Sports: Figure skating, short track speed skating New or existing: New Capacity: 12,000 Cost: $44 million opened: 2012 Future use: Ice skating, cycling velodrome. Will be moved to another Russian city

•ice cuBe curling center Sports: Curling New or existing: New Capacity: 3,000 Cost: $14 million opened: 2012 Future use: Sports arena. It is a portable venue that can be relocated

MouNTAIN CLuSTEr•rOsa khutOr alpine center Sports: Alpine skiing events New or existing: New Capacity: 7,500 opened: 2011 Future use: Major ski resort with 4,528-foot vertical drop

With millions of people expected to descend upon Sochi for the Olympics, security is a top concern for organizers. Along with an estimated 37,000 security officers Sochi will have as many as six short-range air defense systems, each with two cannons and up to 12 surface-to-air missiles. Additionally, Russian security service FSB will monitor nearly all of the city’s phone and Internet communications during the games. Although Russia isn’t revealing the cost of security, estimates place it as high as $2 billion.

Extras History bits Athlete profilesQuotes from the elite

Not your average Winter Olympics host

Palm trees sway gently in the sea breeze as golden sunshine illuminates mountains looming majestically in the distance.Is this idyllic imagery a snapshot from

a South Pacific vacation? A Caribbean getaway, perhaps?No, it’s the location for your 2014

Winter Olympic Games, Sochi, Russia.Situated on the Black Sea, this resort

city of more than 340,000 has a climate closer to Virginia Beach than Lake Placid, with average daytime temperatures reaching 50 degrees in February. But that, according to NBC’s Bob Costas, shouldn’t adversely affect the action at the various outdoor venues.“My understanding is that they have

advanced snow-making technology at the ready,” says Costas, who will front the peacock network’s coverage of the Games airing Feb. 6 to 23. “If they need it, they will go to it. Now, will Sochi look like a winter wonderland? An Albertville, Lillehammer or Lake Placid? Maybe not.”Of the 12 new events making their

Olympic debut at Sochi, ski halfpipe arguably has received the most attention, as freestylers lobbied the International Olympics Committee long and hard for its inclusion as a medal sport. Now that it’s in, it should be interesting to see how it will be received by mainstream and Russian audiences.“If there is a theme, it is action-oriented

events that have become highly popular at the X Games,” Costas says. “Eight of the 12 new events are in snowboarding and freestyle skiing, and ski halfpipe is among many that should bring more of the infusion of youth and energy to the Games that we’ve seen with snowboarding’s halfpipe competitions. While Russia doesn’t have a strong program in all of these events, it does have a very proud tradition in certain snow sports like biathlon and cross-country skiing, and we hope the broad, international appeal of these new events will apply to the Russian crowds as well.“While ski halfpipe is definitely one of

the most highly anticipated new events,”

Costas continues, “figure skating’s new team competition should not be overlooked. Premiering the night before the Opening Ceremony and concluding the first Sunday of the Games, it should be a great way to kick off the figure skating program in a country with such a deep appreciation of the sport. Adding to the drama: the U.S. and Russia should both be in medal contention.”As for other sports Costas is watching,

he says to look for heated play in another ice-bound event.“The hockey should be a rousing

competition,” he says. “While nothing could match the U.S.-Canada final from Vancouver, there are probably a half-dozen nations or more with medal possibilities on the men’s side, including the U.S., Canada, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.”

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Medals in alpine skiing are awarded in the downhill, slalom, giant slalom, super-G and combined events in both men’s and women’s disciplines. Alpine skiing has been contested at every Winter Olympics since 1936 at Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany. The most

successful nation by far is Austria, with 105 medals (31 gold), with Switzerland, France and the United States next in line, albeit with much lower totals. In downhill, the favorite on the men’s side is Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal, the 2010 silver medalist from the Vancouver

games, as well as being the current World Cup and World champion. Also vying for podium space: Klaus Kroell of Austria, Dominik Paris of Italy and Canada’s Erik Guay. On the women’s side, American Lindsey Vonn’s partially torn knee ligament means a new champion will be crowned. That

will likely come from a group including Tina Maze of Slovenia, Maria Hoefl-Riesch of Germany, and rising Swiss star Lara Gut. In slalom, Austria’s Marcel Hirscher – the current World Cup and World champion – heads a field of men’s hopefuls that

includes Croatia’s Ivica Kostelic, Felix Neureuther of Germany and Sweden’s Andre Myhrer, the bronze medalist four years ago. The women’s competition sees World Cup and World Champion Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States as the favorite,

challenged by Sweden’s Frida Hansdotter and Slovenia’s Maze. Current World Cup and World Champion Ted Ligety of the U.S. heads the men’s field in giant slalom, with Austria’s Hirscher,

Norway’s Svindal and Italy’s Manfred Moelgg also vying for hardware, while on the women’s side, it’s 2010 silver medalist Maze and current World Champion Tessa Worley of France as the co-favorites. In super-G, look for Ligety, the current world champ, to duke it out with Svindal (defending gold medalist), rising Austrian star

Matthias Mayer, and American Bode Miller, the 2010 silver medalist – if he’s healthy. Among the women, 2010 silver medalist and current World Cup and World Champion Maze has to be considered the favorite, but rising Swiss star Gut could pose a threat. Vancouver gold medalist Miller would be considered the favorite in the men’s combined field - contingent, of course, on his

health - over Croatia’s Kostelic, France’s Alexis Pinturault and American Ligety, while among the women, Maze heads a field that includes hopefuls Nicole Hosp of Switzerland, Hoefl-Riesch (2010 gold medalist) of Germany, and Julia Mancuso of the United States.

FuLL NAME: JuLIA MANCuSoCountry: United StatesBirthplace: Reno, Nev.Birth date: March 9, 1984Height/weight: 5 feet 6 inches/140 poundsSport: Alpine skiingEvents: Downhill, super-G, giant slalomCredentials: Has three Olympic medals: one gold (2006, giant slalom) and two silvers (2010, downhill and combined) … a two-time silver medalist and three-time bronze medalist at the World Championships.Factoid: Her three Olympic medals are the most for an American women’s alpine skier.

Snowboarding is one of the more recent events to be added to the Winter Olympics, having first been contested in Nagano in 1998 with four events: giant slalom and halfpipe each in separate men’s and women’s competitions. Sixteen years later the event total now reaches 10 with slalom, snowboard cross and a new discipline, slopestyle – all with separate events for men and women – joining the original lineup, with the giant slalom now transformed into the parallel giant slalom. The United States has an overwhelming lead in the snowboarding medal

count in the sport’s short Olympic history with 19 total – including seven gold – with second-place Switzerland’s count standing at nine entering the 2014 Games. Those nations are the only two that have athletes with multiple gold medals in snowboarding – Switzerland’s Philipp Schoch and Americans Shaun White and Seth Wescott have two apiece. All three are expected to compete in Sochi, with the two Americans coming off injuries they suffered in 2013. Slopestyle, new to the Olympics this year, features athletes doing tricks off

rails and jumps over the length of the course - 635 meters in Sochi - which features three jumps that get progressively bigger. White and Canadian Mark McMorris are expected to be the front runners in the men’s slopestyle competition. Both have multiple slopestyle titles in other international competitions. On the women’s side, American Jamie Anderson and Australia’s Torah Bright are expected to compete for the top spot on the medal stand for the event’s inaugural Olympic competition. With White also competing in the halfpipe, as he did in 2006 and 2010, this

marks his first attempt at competing in two Olympic snowboarding events. Among the judges for the halfpipe and slopestyle competitions is gymnastics bronze medalist-turned-snowboarding coach Phoebe Mills.

Full name: shaun rOger WhiteCountry: United StatesBirthplace: San DiegoBirth date: Sept. 3, 1986Height/weight: 5 feet 8 inches/154 poundsSport: SnowboardingEvents: Halfpipe, slopestyleCredentials: Won Olympic gold medals in halfpipe in 2006 and 2010 … as a snowboarder and skateboarder, holds the X Games record for gold medals (15) and overall medal count (23) Factoids: By the age of 1, had two surgeries to correct a congenital heart defect … dislikes his nickname “The Flying Tomato”

Figure skating competitions are held in five disciplines: singles (men’s and women’s), pairs and ice dance, with a new event for these games, team trophy. The team event consists of singles and pairs athletes skating in short and free programs, and ice dancers performing a short

program and free dance. The nation with the best combined score across all four events is the winner. Ten nations will compete in the team event.Figure skating is the oldest sport at the Winter Olympics, actually predating the cold-weather games themselves. It was

introduced at the 1908 Summer Games in London, then became one of the original seven sports at the first Winter Olympics at Chamonix, France, in 1924.Historically speaking, the United States have been the most successful figure skating team at the Olympics with 46 medals,

14 of them gold, in 22 Games. Russia, Canada and Austria have also rung up significant medal counts in the sport.At these Games, however, the U.S. is far from a lock. That’s certainly evident in men’s singles, where the injury-plagued Evan

Lysacek will not return to defend his gold medal from the Vancouver games in 2010. Max Aaron, the 2013 national champion, represents the Americans’ best hope there, but he’ll face an uphill climb against 2010 silver medalist Evgeni Plushenko of Russia, three-time world champion Patrick Chan of Canada, 2013 Skate America champ Tatsuki Machida of Japan, Kazakhstan’s Denis Ten - the silver medalist at the 2013 worlds - and Spaniard Javier Fernandez, who took home bronze at the 2013 worlds.In women’s singles, all eyes will be on South Korea’s Kim Yu-Na, the reigning Olympic and world champion, to see if she’s

recovered from an early fall foot injury that resulted from overtraining. If she’s right, she’s the hands-down favorite for gold. If not, her longtime rival, Vancouver silver medalist Mao Asada of Japan, will certainly seize the opportunity. Italy’s Carolina Kostner, the 2011 world champion, is another in line for hardware, as is American Ashley Wagner, the two-time reigning U.S. champ.The pairs competition should come down to two tandems who know one another very well: Russia’s Tatyana Volosozhar and

Maxim Trankov, the 2013 world, European and Grand Prix champions; and Germany’s Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy, the reigning silver medalists at the world and European championships.Familiarity is also a storyline thread in ice dance, where tandems from the U.S. (reigning world champs Meryl Davis and

Charlie White) and Canada (2010 gold medalists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir) are frequent practice partners, and in Sochi, the co-favorites.In team trophy, look for Team USA, which won the event at the 2013 worlds, to be on the podium.

FuLL NAME: kIM yu-NACountry: South KoreaBirthplace: Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do, South KoreaBirth date: Sept. 5, 1990Height/weight: 5 feet 4 ½ inches/104 poundsSport: Figure skatingEvents: SinglesCredentials: Won a singles gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver … a World Champion in 2009 and 2013 … a three-time Grand Prix Final champion (2006-07, 2007-08, 2009-10)Factoid: Has never failed to medal in her entire career

Considered to be the fastest human-powered, nonmechanical sport in the world, speed skating was first contested at the 1924 Winter Olympics and has been part of the program ever since. Speed skaters race in pairs on a 400m oval and change lanes once per lap to equalize distance.Two-time Olympic gold medalist Shani Davis looks

to continue his dominance at 1,000m. He is joined by former medalist Brian Hansen and others to form a strong U.S. team. On the women’s side, 10-time World Cup medalist Brittany Bowe and others face off against the powerful skaters of Canada, Germany and the Netherlands.

Full name: shani davisCountry: United StatesBirthplace: ChicagoBirth date: Aug. 13, 1982height/Weight: 6 feet 2 inches /190 pounds.Sport: Speed skatingEvents: 500m, 1,000m, 1,500m, 5,000m, 10,000m Credentials: Won two Olympic gold medals in the 1,000m (2006, 2010) and two Olympic silver medals at 1,500m (‘06, ‘10) … three-time 1,000m world champion who owns the top three times ever skated at that distance. Factoid: The first African-American athlete from any nation to win a gold medal in an individual sport at the Winter Olympics … holds a world passport.

Ski jumping is divided into three disciplines on the men’s side: individual normal and large hill, and team large hill Women’s ski jumping makes its Olympic debut this year with the individual normal hill. In the men’s individual normal hill, 2010 bronze medalist Gregor Schlierenzauer of Austria is considered the favorite, though he figures to be pushed by Norway’s Anders Bordal. In the team event, Norway (led by Bordal) and Austria (led by Schlierenzauer) should vie for hardware, while Schlierenzauer should also be a factor in the individual large hill, challenged by 2010 gold medalist Simon Ammann of Switzerland. In the women’s event, look for Japan’s Sara Takanashi and Americans Lindsey Van and Sarah Hendrickson to compete for podium space.

Medals are awarded in men’s and women’s aerials, moguls, skicross, slopestyle and halfpipe, the last two of which make their Olympics debut this year. In men’s aerials, look for Belarus’ two-time gold-medalist Aleksei Grishin to be a top contender, while on the women’s side, Australia’s Lydia Lassila will see challenges to her gold from China’s Xu Mengtao. The moguls field on the men’s side is loaded with contenders, among them U.S. siblings Bryon and Bradley Wilson, and Canadians Mikael Kingsbury and defending gold medalist Alex Bilodeau. The women’s field should come down to two Americans: 2010 gold-medalist Hannah Kearney and Heather McPhie. In slopestyle, Americans Tom Wallisch and reigning FIS world champion Kaya Turski figure to vie for hardware, as do Canada’s Chris Del Bosco and Switzerland’s Fanny Smith in skicross. In halfpipe, look for American Torin Yater-Wallace and Swiss Virginie Faivre on the podium.

• The United States has never won a medal in biathlon.• Ice hockey made its debut as an Olympic sport at the 1920 Summer Games in Antwerp, Belgium.• In 1974, 85-year-old American ski jumper Anders Haugen was awarded a bronze medal to correct a 50-year-old scoring error.• No country in the Southern Hemisphere has ever hosted a Winter Olympics.• At 15 in 1998, American figure skater Tara Lipinski was the youngest individual gold medalist in Winter Olympics history.• Entertainment mogul Walt Disney produced the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, Calif.• The 2014 Winter Olympic torch will be the first to travel into space, aboard a Russian rocket to the International Space Station.• The first Winter Olympics took place in Chamonix, France, in 1924.• Japan is the only Asian country to have hosted a Winter Olympics.• An official sport at the first Winter Olympics in 1924, curling did not again reach that status until the 1998 Games at Nagano, Japan.

If the hockey action at the XXII Winter Olympic Games is anything like what took place in Vancouver in 2010, fans should have much to look forward to. In the gold medal game, the U.S. and Canada delivered one of the most exciting finals in Olympic history. It culminated in an overtime victory for Canada when Sidney Crosby zipped the puck past U.S. goalie Ryan Miller after the U.S. had tied the game in final seconds of regulation. Although rosters had not been announced at this writing, there’s no

reason not to expect top NHL players at Sochi. The men’s tournament will feature 12 teams in three groups. Group A will have Russia, Slovakia, the United States and Slovenia. Group B features Finland, Canada, Norway and Austria while Group C is made up of the Czech Republic, Sweden, Switzerland and Latvia. Nine of the teams qualified in 2012 at the World Championships, which

were won by the Russians. The 2013 International Ice Hockey Federation rankings, meanwhile, has Sweden at the top, followed by Finland and Russia. The U.S., which has not medaled in the past six Olympics played outside North America, was ranked sixth. Ice hockey will be played in two Russian arenas at the Olympic park.

They’ll also be played on international size rinks measuring 60-by-30 meters (approximately 200-by-100 feet) rather than the smaller rink of 61-by-26 meters (200-by-85 feet) that was used in Vancouver. Since 1998, women’s ice hockey has also been an Olympic sport. The IIHF had the U.S and Canada ranked No. 1 and 2 respectively in 2013. While the U.S. won gold at Nagano, Japan, in 1998, and has medaled in every Olympics since, Canada took gold medals in Salt Lake City (2002), Turin, Italy (2006) and Vancouver (2010).

Full name: sidney patrick crOsByCountry: CanadaBirthplace: Cole Harbour, Nova ScotiaBirth date: August 7, 1987Height/weight: 5 feet 11 inches /200 poundsSport: Ice hockeyEvents: Men’s ice hockey tournamentCredentials: Won Olympic gold medal with Team Canada in 2010. Scored the game-winning goal in overtime of the gold medal game against the United States. Factoid: A standout throughout his youth and high-school career, Crosby did not attend college as he was drafted in 2005 by the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins.

Short track speed skating has become an integral part of the Winter Olympics since it became an official sport in 1992. Known for its frenetic pace and often dangerous action, short track is a popular spectator sport because of the intense competition between athletes.Due to the crowded space around the oval track, short track skaters wear helmets to prevent

potential head injuries and special gloves that protect the hands from being cut by extra-sharp blades. Knee, elbow and neck guards are also worn due to the dangerous nature of the sport.Individual short track races are elimination-style, which means that time is not a deciding

factor. Thirty-two skaters (in both the men’s and women’s divisions) compete in heats of four athletes at a time. For each heat, the top two finishers advance to the next round. This continues until the final four skaters are determined, who then compete for medals in the 500m, 1000m and 1500m races. Relay races involve eight teams of four skaters each. The men compete in the 5000m relay and women compete at 3000m. The United States men’s team will be without Apolo Anton Ohno, the face of short track

since the 2002 Games and the most decorated American Winter Olympic athlete of all time. The eight-time medalist retired from Olympic competition after Vancouver and will be a commentator for NBC this time around. The team is sure to face a difficult challenge from rivals South Korea (Lee HyoBeea) and Canada (Charles Hamelin), and will now look to top-ranked skaters J.R. Celski, Jeff Simon, Chris Creveling and others to replace Ohno. On the women’s side, Lana Gehring, Jessica Smith and Emily Scott lead the U.S. team. They have the task of trying to stop China, who dominated the medal stand in Vancouver.

• The Soviet Union made its Winter Olympics debut in 1956.• In 1988, Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards became the first Brit to compete in ski jumping at the Winter Olympics, finishing last in the 70m and 90m events.• The 1988 Jamaican bobsled team inspired the film “Cool Runnings.”• The United States has hosted four Winter Olympics, more than any other country.• The bobsled and luge track used in the 1984 Winter Olympics at Sarajevo was used as an artillery position during the Bosnian War.• In 1980, Taiwan became the only country to boycott a Winter Olympics.• In 1972, Denver won the right to host the 1976 Winter Olympics, but voters rejected public funding and the Games were moved to Innsbruck, Austria.• Sochi plans to use the infrastructure from the 2014 Winter Olympics to construct a Formula One racecourse. • After the collapse of the Soviet Union, several of its former states competed as the Unified Team in Albertville, France, in 1992.• Artificial snow was first used in a Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, N.Y. in 1980.

There are three events in which competitors can earn medals in the bobsled, or bobsleigh as it is known in much of the world, with the women competing in two-person teams and men participating in separate events for two- and four-man teams. Much of the attention this year is focused on American track-and-field athlete and media darling Lolo Jones, who is jumping in a bobsled at the 2014 Games in hopes of winning her first Olympic medal after being shut out in London in 2012. The American men, led by Steven Holcomb, look to defend their gold in the four-man.

Full name: Kaillie Simundson HumphriesCountry: CanadaBirthplace: Calgary, AlbertaBirth date: Sept. 4, 1985Height/weight: 5 feet 7 inches/160 poundsSport: BobsledEvents: Two-woman bobsledCredentials: Won gold medal at 2010 Winter Olympics … won medals at 2008, 2011, 2012 and 2013 World Championships … won gold medal at 2009 World CupFactoid: Was an alpine skier until the age of 16 … married to fellow Olympic bobsledder Dan Humphries … is a country music fan

Olympians who compete in the Nordic combined event must be proficient in two disciplines: ski jump and a 15K cross-country ski race. Nordic combined remains a men’s-only competition with both individual and team events. Germany’s Eric Frenzel won the 2013 World Cup, finishing a full minute ahead of Norway’s Magnus Kro. Although the U.S. has medaled in Nordic combined, Norway has nearly double the medals of other countries, including Finland and Austria, who currently rank second and third in the overall medal count. Bill Demong represents Team USA’s best hope for hardware.

If there is an Olympic sport that combines two very different disciplines, biathlon is it. Biathletes deal with accelerating heart rates as cross-country ski racers and are then required to settle down for rounds of accurate rifle shooting. Once known as “military patrol,” biathlon became an Olympic sport for men in 1960 and for women in 1992. Competition is held in a variety of formats that include both individual and team races. Historically, Germany has dominated this sport followed by Russia (including the former Soviet Union) and Norway. The U.S. has never medaled in biathlon at the Olympics and puts its hopes on upstate New York residents Lowell Bailey and Tim Burke. Norway’s Ole Einar Bjorndalen figures to be a favorite for gold.

“Snowboarding is really unique in a way where, no matter how much experience you have, no matter how many contests you’ve done, you’re never going to be the best. It’s always changing, it’s always progressing, and I think for me after 15 years competing, that’s what keeps me coming back, is that I’m constantly challenged every day.”

A curling match is made up of 10 ends (which are not unlike innings in a baseball game). An end consists of each team shooting eight stones toward a 12-foot circle called the house. For each stone closer to the center of the circle than any of the opponent’s, one point is scored. The team with the most points after 10 ends is the winner.Curling became an official

Olympic sport in 1998. Canada is the traditional power, winning the last two gold medals in the men’s competition, while Sweden has recently dominated the women’s side. Both U.S. teams will look to improve on disappointing results in Vancouver.

After being shut out of skeleton medals in the last two Winter Olympics, the U.S. looks to return to the podium in Sochi with Noelle Pikus-Pace, who retired in 2010 before returning to the sport two years later, and Katie Uhlaender. Both are front-runners to medal in the women’s event. Among their biggest competitors are Germans Anja Huber, who won a bronze at the Vancouver Games, and Marion Thees. America’s best hope in the men’s event is former decathlete John Daly, who had a disappointing 17th place finish in Vancouver. He’ll have to outduel, among others, Latvian brothers Martins and Tomass Dukurs.

From Sweden

“We’re basically the representation of what the sport is going to look like to the world. … So it’s definitely exciting to be able to be there to represent the sport the way I think it should be represented.”

An original Winter Olympics sport, cross-country skiing remains a staple in the competition. With six events each for men and women, there will be plenty skinny skiing happening at Sochi. These athletes burn more calories perhaps than any other and use every major muscle in their bodies. Norway, Sweden and Finland along with Russia usually go home with the most medals. Norway continues to produce top athletes in cross-country skiing with Martin Johnsrud (men’s) and Marit Bjoergen (women’s) enjoying success at the World Cup level. Alaska’s Kikkan Randall could contend for a medal for the U.S. women’s team.

New to Olympic luge in 2014 is a team relay event that combines the three events that make up the sport: women’s singles, men’s singles and doubles. The U.S. has won medals in the event at World Cup competitions and could do the same in Sochi but will have to compete with the likes of Germany (Felix Loch) – always a dominant force in luge – to make it to the podium. In the singles event, two-time gold medalist Armin Zöggeler, who first medaled for Italy with a bronze at the 1994 Games, looks to win a Winter Olympics record sixth medal for a single event.

• U.S. skier Bode Miller is married to model and professional volleyball player Morgan Beck.• Ski halfpipe and slopestyle make their Olympic debuts at Sochi.• U.S. snowboarder Shaun White plays guitar in the rock band Bad Things.• Norwegian gold medal figure skater Sonja Henie went on to a successful acting career in the 1930s and ’40s.• Sochi is a resort town on the Black Sea that has the warmest climate of any host city in the history of the Winter Olympics.

QuESTIoNS ansWers1) Sochi, the host of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, represents the first time Russia has hosted a Winter Olympics. What country has hosted the Games more than any other?2) Where and when were the first Winter Olympics held?3) The 1940 and 1944 Games were canceled because of World War II. What nation was scheduled to host them?4) Although the Games are held every four years, two Winter Games were held two years apart in order to accommodate alternate scheduling with the Summer Olympic. When did that happen?5) What country will host the 2018 Games?

1) The United States (1932, 1960, 1980, 2002)2) Chamonix, France, in 19243) 1940: Sapporo, Japan (moved to 1972); 1944: Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy (moved to 1956)4) 1992: Albertville, France; 1994: Lillehammer, Norway5) Pyeongchang, South Korea

Team USA figure skater

“That type of recognition (being a U.S. medal favorite) just means that I’ve been doing really well over the past couple of months and I have something to be very proud of. At the same time, it’s overwhelming; it definitely adds a bit of pressure but it’s pressure that I welcome.”

Event Dates of Events Q=Qualifying event M=Medal event

•Opening ceremOny 2/7 •Alpine Skiing 2/9-10M; 2/12M; 2/14-16M; 2/18-19M; 2/21-22M •BiAthlOn 2/8-11M; 2/13-14M; 2/16-17M; 2/19M; 2/21-22M •BOBSled 2/16Q; 2/17M; 2/18Q; 2/19M; 2/22Q; 2/23M •crOSS cOuntry 2/8-9M; 2/11M; 2/13-16M; 2/19M; 2/22-23M •curling 2/10-17Q; 2/19Q; 2/20-21M

•Figure SkAting 2/6Q; 2/8Q; 2/9M; 2/11Q; 2/12M; 2/13Q; 2/14M; 2/16Q; 2/17M; 2/19Q; 2/20M

•FreeStyle Skiing 2/6Q; 2/8M; 2/10-11M; 2/13-14M; 2/17-18M; 2/20-21M

An inside sneak peek at the Adler Arena

*Subject to change

Event Dates of Events Q=Qualifying event M=Medal event

•hOckey 2/8-19Q; 2/20M; 2/21Q; 2/22-23M •luge 2/8Q; 2/9M; 2/10Q; 2/11-13M •nOrdic cOmBined 2/12M; 2/18M; 2/20M •ShOrt trAck 2/10M; 2/13M; 2/15M; 2/18M; 2/21M

•SkeletOn 2/13Q; 2/14-15M

•Ski Jumping 2/8Q, 2/9M; 2/11M; 2/14Q; 2/15M; 2/17M •SnOwBOArd 2/6Q; 2/8-9M; 2/11-12M; 2/16-17M; 2/19M; 2/22M

•Speed SkAting 2/8-13M; 2/15-16M; 2/18-19M; 2/21Q; 2/22M

•clOSing ceremOny 2/23

Krasnaya Polyana, Rosa Khutor mountain ski resort

*Subject to change

FeBruAry 6 6:00 a.m. NBCSN u.S. Olympic trials:

women’s ice hockey: united States vs. canada.

7:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Figure Skating, Snowboarding, Freestyle Skiing. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

12:36 a.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Figure Skating, Snowboarding, Freestyle Skiing. (CC)

FeBruAry 7 6:00 a.m. NBCSN u.S. Olympic trials:

women’s ice hockey: canada vs. united States.

6:30 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Opening ceremony. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

12:05 a.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Opening ceremony. (CC)

2:00 a.m. NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: hockey. (L)

FeBruAry 8 7:00 a.m. MSNBC XXii winter Olympics:

hockey. (L) 8:30 a.m. NBCSN XXii winter Olympics:

Figure Skating. (L)10:00 a.m. NBCSN XXii winter Olympics:

Figure Skating. (L) 1:30 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics:

Ski Jumping, Biathlon, Speed Skating, cross-country Skiing. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

5:00 p.m. NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: hockey.

7:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Figure Skating, Snowboarding, Freestyle Skiing. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

11:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Figure Skating, luge. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

12:00 a.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Figure Skating, Snowboarding, Freestyle Skiing. (CC)




luge. (L)

9:00 a.m. NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: Figure Skating. (L)

12:00 p.m. NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: Ski Jumping. (L)

1:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Figure Skating, Biathlon, Speed Skating, cross-country Skiing. (Same-day Tape) (CC)



6:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Figure Skating, Alpine Skiing, Snow-boarding, Ski Jumping. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

10:35 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Figure Skating. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

11:35 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Figure Skating, Alpine Skiing, Snow-boarding, Ski Jumping. (CC)

2:00 a.m. NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: curling. (Same-day Tape)

FeBruAry 10 6:30 a.m. NBCSN XXii winter Olympics:

Speed Skating. (L) 9:00 a.m. MSNBC XXii winter Olympics:

hockey. (L)10:15 a.m. NBCSN XXii winter Olympics:

luge, curling. (L) 2:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics:

Speed Skating, Biathlon. (Same-day Tape) (CC)NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: curling.

4:00 p.m. CNBC XXii winter Olympics: curling. (Same-day Tape)NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: hockey.

7:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Alpine Skiing, Freestyle Skiing, Short track. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

11:05 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Short track, luge. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

12:05 a.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Alpine Skiing, Freestyle Skiing, Short track. (CC)



hockey. (L)

your Local Listings

NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: Figure Skating. (L)

12:30 p.m. NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: Ski Jumping, Speed Skating. (L)

2:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Cross-Country Skiing, Luge, Freestyle Skiing. (Same-day Tape) (CC)


7:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Snowboarding, Figure Skating, Freestyle Skiing, Ski Jumping. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

11:05 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Speed Skating, Biathlon. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

12:05 a.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Snowboarding, Figure Skating, Freestyle Skiing, Ski Jumping. (CC)

2:00 a.m. MSNBC XXii winter Olympics: hockey. (L)NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: curling, nordic combined. (L)



Figure Skating, nordic combined. (L)11:00 a.m. MSNBC XXii winter Olympics:

hockey. (L)uSA XXii winter Olympics: hockey. (L)

12:45 p.m. NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: luge. (Same-day Tape)

2:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: nordic combined. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

4:00 p.m. CNBC XXii winter Olympics: curling. (Same-day Tape)


7:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Alpine Skiing, Figure Skating, Snow-boarding, Speed Skating. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

11:05 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: luge. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

12:05 a.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Alpine Skiing, Figure Skating, Snow-boarding, Speed Skating. (CC)



hockey. (L)NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: hockey. (L)

9:00 a.m. MSNBC XXii winter Olympics: curling. (Same-day Tape)NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: Figure Skating. (L)

10:45 a.m. NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: Figure Skating. (L)

11:00 a.m. MSNBC XXii winter Olympics: hockey. (L)uSA XXii winter Olympics: hockey. (L)

2:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Biathlon, luge. (Same-day Tape) (CC)NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: hockey.


7:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Figure Skating, Freestyle Skiing, Speed Skating, Skeleton. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

11:05 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Short track. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

12:05 a.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Figure Skating, Freestyle Skiing, Speed Skating, Skeleton. (CC)

2:00 a.m. MSNBC XXii winter Olympics: hockey. (L)NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: curling. (Same-day Tape)



Figure Skating. (L)11:00 a.m. MSNBC XXii winter Olympics:

hockey. (L)NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: Figure Skating. (L)uSA XXii winter Olympics: hockey. (L)

1:15 p.m. NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: Ski Jumping. (Same-day Tape)

2:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Biathlon, Freestyle Skiing. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

your Local ListingsNBCSN XXii winter Olympics: hockey.


7:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Figure Skating, Alpine Skiing, Freestyle Skiing, Skeleton. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

11:05 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-pics: Ski Jumping, Skeleton. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

12:05 a.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-pics: Figure Skating, Alpine Skiing, Free-style Skiing, Skeleton. (CC)

2:00 a.m. MSNBC XXii winter Olympics: hockey. (L)NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: hockey. (L)


hockey. (L) 6:30 a.m. MSNBC XXii winter Olympics:


Skeleton. (L)11:00 a.m. NBCSN XXii winter Olympics:

hockey. (L)uSA XXii winter Olympics: hockey. (L)

2:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-pics: Short track, cross-country Skiing, Skeleton. (Same-day Tape) (CC)



7:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-pics: Alpine Skiing, Short track, Speed Skating, Ski Jumping. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

11:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-pics: curling. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

12:00 a.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-pics: Alpine Skiing, Short track, Speed Skating, Ski Jumping. (CC)

2:00 a.m. NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: curling. (Same-day Tape)uSA XXii winter Olympics: hockey. (L)


hockey. (L) 6:30 a.m. uSA XXii winter Olympics: hock-

ey. (L) 9:00 a.m. NBCSN XXii winter Olympics:

Figure Skating. (L)11:00 a.m. uSA XXii winter Olympics: hock-

ey. (L) 1:00 p.m. NBCSN XXii winter Olympics:

Biathlon. (Same-day Tape) 2:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-

pics: cross-country Skiing, Snowboard-ing. (Same-day Tape) (CC)NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: hockey.

3:00 p.m. CNBC XXii winter Olympics: curling. (Same-day Tape)


6:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-pics: Figure Skating, Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding, Speed Skating, Bobsled. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

10:35 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-pics: Biathlon, Figure Skating. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

11:35 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-pics: Figure Skating, Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding, Speed Skating, Bobsled. (CC)




Figure Skating. (L)11:00 a.m. MSNBC XXii winter Olympics:

hockey. (L)12:30 p.m. NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: Ski

Jumping, Biathlon. (L) 2:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-

pics: Biathlon, Snowboarding, Freestyle Skiing. (Same-day Tape) (CC)NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: hockey.


7:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-pics: Figure Skating, Snowboarding, Freestyle Skiing, Ski Jumping. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

12:01 a.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-pics: Bobsled, Figure Skating. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

1:00 a.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Figure Skating, Snowboarding, Freestyle Skiing, Ski Jumping. (CC)




Speed Skating, nordic combined. (L)11:00 a.m. MSNBC NBCSN XXii winter

Olympics: hockey. (L) 2:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-

pics: Speed Skating, nordic combined. (Same-day Tape) (CC)NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: hockey.

4:00 p.m. CNBC XXii winter Olympics: curling. (Same-day Tape)NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: hockey. (Same-day Tape)

7:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Alpine Skiing, Freestyle Skiing, Bobsled, Short track. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

12:00 a.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-pics: Short track. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

1:00 a.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-pics: Alpine Skiing, Freestyle Skiing, Bobsled, Short track. (CC)



hockey. (L) 8:00 a.m. MSNBC XXii winter Olympics:

curling. (Same-day Tape) 9:00 a.m. NBCSN XXii winter Olympics:

Figure Skating. (L)10:45 a.m. NBCSN XXii winter Olympics:

Figure Skating. (L)11:00 a.m. mSnBc uSA XXii winter Olym-

pics: hockey. (L) 1:30 p.m. MSNBC XXii winter Olympics:

curling. (Same-day Tape) 2:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-

pics: Speed Skating, cross-country Ski-ing. (Same-day Tape) (CC)NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: hockey.

4:00 p.m. CNBC XXii winter Olympics: curling. (Same-day Tape)NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: hockey. (Same-day Tape)

7:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Figure Skating, Alpine Skiing, Bobsled, Snowboarding. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

12:00 a.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-pics: Biathlon. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

1:00 a.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Figure Skating, Alpine Skiing, Bobsled, Snowboarding. (CC)

2:00 a.m. NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: nordic combined, curling. (L)



Figure Skating. 9:00 a.m. NBCSN XXii winter Olympics:

Figure Skating. (L)11:00 a.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-

pics: hockey, Freestyle Skiing. (L) (CC) 1:00 p.m. NBCSN XXii winter Olympics:

Figure Skating, Freestyle Skiing. (Same-day Tape)



7:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-pics: Figure Skating, Freestyle Skiing. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

12:00 a.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-pics: nordic combined. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

1:00 a.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-pics: Figure Skating, Freestyle Skiing. (CC)

2:00 a.m. NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: curling, Freestyle Skiing. (L)


Biathlon, Freestyle Skiing. (L)10:45 a.m. NBCSN XXii winter Olympics:

hockey. (L) 2:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-

pics: Freestyle Skiing, Biathlon. (Same-day Tape) (CC)NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: hockey.


7:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-pics: Alpine Skiing, Short track, Speed Skating. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

11:30 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-pics: Speed Skating. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

12:30 a.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-pics: Alpine Skiing, Short track, Speed Skating. (CC)

2:00 a.m. NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: Snowboarding. (Same-day Tape)


hockey. (L)11:30 a.m. NBCSN XXii winter Olympics:

Figure Skating. (L) 1:30 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-

pics: Snowboarding, cross-country Ski-ing, Biathlon. (Same-day Tape) (CC)


7:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-pics: Alpine Skiing, Bobsled, Figure Skating, Snowboarding, Speed Skating. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

11:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-pics: Figure Skating. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

12:00 a.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olympics: Alpine Skiing, Bobsled, Figure Skating, Snowboarding, Speed Skating. (CC)

FeBruAry 23 6:00 a.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-

pics: hockey. (L) (CC) 1:00 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-

pics: cross-country Skiing, Bobsled. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

4:00 p.m. NBCSN XXii winter Olympics: hockey. (Same-day Tape)

7:30 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-pics: closing ceremony. (Same-day Tape) (CC)

10:35 p.m. kArk-nBc XXii winter Olym-pics: closing ceremony. (CC)

2014 winter olympic guide

Documents

new capacity

hockey new

ceremonies new

alpine skiing events

ice skating

future use

sports arena

cost of security