Sochi Games get under way
Baku, February 7 (AZERTAC). Competition at the Sochi Olympics has begun, 32 hours before the opening ceremony.
Early starts are needed because of 12 men's and women's medal events added since the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
Men's snowboard slopestyle qualifying runs — without American star Shaun White, who withdrew Wednesday — got underway Thursday 10 a.m. (0600 GMT) at X-Treme Park in the mountains above Sochi.
Women's qualifying runs were following in the afternoon, and women's moguls qualifying was scheduled to start freestyle skiing events at 6 p.m. (1400 GMT).
Men's slopestyle and women's moguls are among the first medals to be awarded Saturday.
Down in Sochi, the new team figure skating competition begins 7.30 p.m. (1530 GMT) at the Iceberg Skating Palace.
The men's short program is to be followed by the pairs.
The official opening ceremonies will take place Friday night at the Fisht Olympic Stadium before 40,000 spectators.
Details of what viewers can expect at the ceremonies have remained tightly under wraps, but the ceremony is typically a chance for the host country to showcase their culture, music and dance, as well as this Games’ motto, which this year is: “Hot, Cool, Yours.”
For exactly 16 days, the world will be looking at Sochi and its Winter Olympic Games. We are expected to see over 88 nations, and a total of 2,800 athletes. There will be a total of 98 events in 7 different sports. The games will begin on February 7th 2014 and will conclude on February 23rd 2014.
Azerbaijan will be represented by 4 athletes in Sochi. In the men`s alpine skiing, Azerbaijan`s squad will include Patrick Brahner and Cedric Notts.
Julia Zlobina and Alexei Sitnikov will compete in the figure skating event.
Other news in this section
