2014 Sochi Winter Olympics

[Natalka]

Love that they are using traditional Cossacks!



The cossacks will accompany police patrols in full traditional uniform, a spokesman for the Kuban Cossack Brigade said. Typical cossack costume includes elaborate tunics, fur hats, and even swords.

They will provide security for athletes, foreign delegations and tourists.

Most cossacks descend from medieval Russian settlers in the south of the country and Siberia. The Kuban Cossack Brigade is native to the Krasnodar Territory that contains Sochi and has been given powers to check identification and detain criminals in the region.

[Natalka]

12 new events

In an attempt to make Winter Games younger, hipper, edgier and more robust, the IOC approved the addition of 12 new Olympic events, eight of which have ties to the X Games. The additional events increase the program to 15 sports with 98 medal events -- 69 in the mountains and 29 ice events in the area's coastal cluster that will feature ice sports.

Freeskiing halfpipe (men and women)
Think of a halfpipe event on skis instead of snowboards (two routines of flips, twists and jumps)

Freeskiing slopestyle (men and women)
The hybrid slopestyle event combines the liftoff skills of aerialists and skateboarders with the downhill speed of an alpine skier.

Snowboard slopestyle (Men and women)
See ski slopestyle and replace the skis with a board.

Snowboard parallel special slalom (men and women)
This is a slopestyle event for two athletes racing side-by-side down identical parallel courses with identical obstacles.

Biathlon mixed relay
Already popular at events in Europe, the mixed relay will include two females per team racing six-kilometer legs followed by two males racing 7.5-kilometer legs. Each athlete will fire one prone and one standing shot and must ski a penalty lap of 150 meters for each miss. The winning team will have the lowest combined time of the four legs.

Women's ski jumping
The women will contest one individual event on the hill on which the men compete in the normal event. The highest combined score (distance + style points) for two jumps wins.

Figure skating team event
Judges will combine scores from performances by one entry per country from each of the four classifications: men's, ladies', pairs and dance. The competition, held over three days, will take place before the opening ceremony, extending the Games' program to 20 days.

Luge team relay
Sliders become slappers as two singles lugers (one man and one woman) and one doubles team trip touch pads to open gates for teammates after completing legs of a quirky luge relay.

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/-ol...#ixzz2qwoECtR4

[Patty Smyth]

The toilets at the biathlon center

"SOTCHI 2014 - La photo, postée par le journaliste de la BBC Steve Rosenberg, a enflammé Twitter ces deux derniers jours. On peut y voir, dans les toilettes hommes du centre olympique de biathlon pour les JO de Sotchi, deux cuvettes séparées d'une cinquantaine de centimètres et sans cloison:"

[Patty Smyth]

Curling team - Norway Wowzers

[VeeVee]

The toilets at the biathlon center

"SOTCHI 2014 - La photo, postée par le journaliste de la BBC Steve Rosenberg, a enflammé Twitter ces deux derniers jours. On peut y voir, dans les toilettes hommes du centre olympique de biathlon pour les JO de Sotchi, deux cuvettes séparées d'une cinquantaine de centimètres et sans cloison:"

I wonder how that would work...bc I assume when one person goes in they lock the door right? How does the other person now another toilet is free and how do they get in?
How awkward would that be haha

Just noticed the toilet paper is only on one side haha imagine..."excuse me I just have to reach over you while my butt is exposed to grab some paper" lol

[Darth Penguin]

Curling team - Norway Wowzers

that is......umm.......striking to say the least!

[beckie.c]

Normally I'm a curling girl all the way, but this year I'm especially looking forward to the pairs skating. While I haven't met them directly, Rudi Swiegers and Page Lawrence are friends of friends and I'm excited that they got this opportunity as I have watched some of Rudi's career in our local papers. It is nice to know some of the back story and see the dedication and hard work pay off. Here is to a great (and safe) Olympics sending good luck to all the Canadian Athletes

[beckie.c]

Curling team - Norway Wowzers

Got to love Norway's style

[Natalka]

You can listen to, or download, the official music album of the Sochi Games

http://sg2014.believedigital.com/

Channel on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYCFS...DL60yb-DvLAUPJ

[Natalka]

What a FAB choice!




Hayley Wickenheiser (originally from Shaunavon, SK) will carry the Canadian f-l-a-g at the opening ceremonies for the 2014 Sochi Olympics.


Wickenheiser is the longest-serving member of Canada’s National Women’s Hockey Team, and has played in every Olympics where women’s hockey was an event.

Wickenhesier has represented Canada at four winter Olympics, winning a silver medal in 1998, and three consecutive golds in 2002, 2006 and 2010.

[thriftygranny]

Go Mark McMorris, love this snowboarding Saskatchewan boy , can't wait to see him compete!!!

[Natalka]

I agree, thriftygranny!



His bio here
http://olympic.ca/team-canada/mark-mcmorris/

I'm usually a huge Shaun White fan, but am hoping Mark beats him! At least he will in the slopestyle.

Shaun is skipping the X games this week in Aspen, so Mark will win there for sure, although I wish they were both competing.

(and I'm still not happy Shaun got his hair cut, lol!)

[Patty Smyth]

Germany

[Natalka]

^Wowsers!

US

[Natalka]

Russia





Love the women's coat!