The Winter Olympic games are held every four years. The International Olympic Committee chooses a new city around the world to host each Winter Olympics. However, although the cities may change, the competition remains the same. Olympic events fall into seven major winter sport categories, and there are men-only and women-only evens, as well as events in which both men and women compete.
Biathlon
The biathlon is a combination of cross-country skiing and marksmanship. This event was introduced in 1948 as a demonstration sport at the Winter Games in St. Moritz, and was included as an official Olympic event beginning in 1960; the women's biathlon was added in 1992. The rules and standards for this event are governed by the International Biathlon Union, an organization formed in 1998.
Skating
Skating is an umbrella category that includes three subdivisions: figure skating, speed skating and short track speed skating. Figure skating is the oldest sport included in the Winter Olympics. There are four categories in which athletes can compete, and competitions for both men and women, pairs skating and ice dancing competitions. Ice dancing and pairs skating are both mixed gender competitions.
Skiing
Skiing is possibly the most recognized winter sport, and is the category with the most subdivisions. Snowboarding, ski jumping, alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, cross country skiing and nordic combined skiing are all included in this broad Olympic category.
Luge
The luge is a sport in which athletes race down an icy slope at astounding speeds on tiny sleds with no brakes. Men and women can compete solo in singles events, or compete in a doubles competition with a partner of either gender. Luge was included in the Olympic games for the first time in 1964.
Curling
Curling is an Olympic team sport. Games are played by two teams of four players on a rectangular sheet of ice. Curling was officially included in the Olympic program in 1998 with both men's and women's events. One member of the team shoots a granite stone down a sheet of ice toward a marked target. To affect speed, two other athletes can sweep the ice in front of the stone as it travels. The goal is to get the stone as close to the target as possible.
Ice Hockey
Men's ice hockey has been an Olympic event since 1924; however, women's ice hockey did not enter the competition until the 1998 Olympic games. This event is played as a team sport with six members playing on either side during game play.
Bobsleigh
Bobsleigh is an Olympic event similar to the luge. Participants travel down icy slopes on small sleds. Athletes can participate individually or in two- or four-man teams. Unlike luge sleds, bobsleighs traditionally have breaks; however, participants also compete in skeleton events in which the sleds do not have breaks, making these events very similar to luge.
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