The Winter Olympics are a massive event held every four years with winter sports athletes from all over the world coming to compete. Countries send out teams of a specified number of people with a certain amount of skill in their particular sport.
How many countries participate?
There are currently 89 countries participating in the events, representing a total of about 2,700 athletes.
How many events are there?
There are 15 different sports being contested during the games, with a total of 80 medal events. There is also a torch relay that takes place in the days before the opening ceremony. The relay begins at Olympia, Greece, and winds its way around the host country.
What countries have the most medals?
The two leading countries are Norway and Germany. The Norwegians have won a total of 307 medals while the Germans have 273 medals. Among other notable medal winners include Austria, which has a total of 145, Switzerland with 143, and Canada with 115.
How did figure skating get to be an Olympic sport?
In 1908, figure skating was only a demonstration event. However, when it became a medal sport in the 1920s, the Winter Olympics became a truly worldwide event.
When and where was ice hockey added as an Olympic sport?
Ice Hockey was first played at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium, but was played as a demonstration sport. It became an official medal event in the Winter Olympics starting with the 1924 games in Chamonix, France.
What is luge?
The word “luge” comes from the French word for sled. In its most basic definition, it’s a small sled that has handles and one footrest. Participants ride down an ice track lying on their back with feet first gripping the luge between their feet.
How long is the luge track?
There are four different tracks that range in length from 885 meters to 2,300 meters. The longest course is at Cesana Pariol in Italy; it’s 1,435 meters long.
How much does the luge sled weigh?
The starting weight is 11.9 kg or 26 pounds. The athletes may add or remove weight depending on the individual track conditions. Slight modifications are allowed, but it must be approved by a technical delegate before use in competition.
How to Watch the Winter Olympics
If you want to watch the games, NBC is broadcasting them live across the United States. This year they are offering an app called “NBC Olympics” that shows where different events will be streamed live (and what events are currently playing).
Can I watch Winter Olympics via a Streaming Service?
Most of the events can be streamed through NBC’s website or with a streaming service such as Sling TV, Hulu Live, DirecTV Now, PlayStation Vue, YouTube TV or Fubo TV.
The Winter Olympics will occur in February 2022, but the international competitions start in 2021. A list of events for each year can be found by visiting the official website for the 2022 Winter Olympics.