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BOBSLEIGH Olympic Sliding Centre 18-25 February Medal events: 3 Using their size and strength, bobsleigh athletes can reach speeds of 135km per hour and endure pressure four times the earth’s gravity while going around the curves of the track. The Olympic Sliding Centre will host three medal events – the two-man bobsleigh, two-woman bobsleigh and the four- person bobsleigh open to athletes of both genders for the fi rst time. CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING Alpensia Cross-Country Centre 10-25 February Medal events: 12 The honour of receiving the fi rst and last medals of the Games will go to athletes from cross-country skiing, which is split into six competitions for men and women: free, skiathlon, sprint, team sprint, mass start and relay. A key aspect of the discipline is the make-up of the course, which comprises three equal segments of uphill, level, and downhill fi elds. Skiers are required to navigate the course using either classic or skate skiing techniques. BIATHLON Alpensia Biathlon Centre 10-23 February Medal events: 1 1 The revamped Alpensia Biathlon Centre will host 11 events from a sport that requires endurance and skill, combining cross-country skiing and rifl e shooting. Athletes will take part in sprint, individual, pursuit, mass start and relay events, while there is also a mixed relay, which made its debut on the Olympic programme at the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014. CURLING Gangneung Curling Centre 8-25 February Medal events: 3 Introduced at the Olympic Winter Games Nagano 1998, curling will feature an extra event in PyeongChang, with mixed doubles added to the programme alongside the men’s and women’s categories. The competition begins the day before the Opening Ceremony and ends on the fi nal day of the Games – making curling the only sport to be contested every day. Above There will be 11 biathlon events in PyeongChang Left Alpine skiing events range from the speed-focused downhill to the technical slalom FIGURE SKATING Gangneung Ice Arena 9-23 February Medal events: 5 A guaranteed visual treat, fi gure skating features fi ve events: singles consisting of a men’s and women’s category, pairs and ice dance (both of which involve men and women performing together), and the team event. Skaters must perform jumps, spins and steps to music in order to impress the judges, who award points based on accuracy and the diffi culty of the routines. There will also be a gala exhibition on the last day of the Games. OLYMPIC REVIEW 41