What the 2010 Winter Olympics Offers the World!

At the end of March 2009, the following countries had1. Bobsleigh
qualified:2. Luge (a one- or two-man sled on which the athletes
1. The Bahamaslie face up and slide feet first, steering by exerting
2. Belgiumpressure using their legs and shoulders)
3. Belarus3. Skeleton (the athlete lies face down and head first
4. Canadaon his sled, using his entire body to steer the sled. This
5. Chinasled has no breaking mechanism)
6. Czech Republic4. Ice Hockey (played on a narrower field, measuring
7. Denmark61 m × 26 m)
8. Estonia5. Figure Skating
9. Finland6. Speed Skating
10. France7. Short-Track Speed Skating
11. Georgia8. Curling (a team sport in which each team pushes a
12. Germanyheavy, polished granite stone towards a target, while
13. Ghanasweepers with 'brooms' direct the stone under their
14. Great Britainteams' guidance)
15. IndiaALPINE, SKIING and SNOWBOARDING
16. Iran1. Alpine
17. Israel2. Freestyle (a skiing event in which athletes spin, jump
18. Italyand undertake aerial feats)
19. Japan3. Snowboarding
20. KazakhstanNORDIC
21. Latvia1. Biathlon (comprising of Sprints, Mass Starts,
22. LithuaniaIndividuals, Relays and Pursuits)
23. Norway2. Cross-Country Skiing
24. Poland3. Ski Jumping
25. Russia4. Nordic Combined (involving a hill and jump from a
26. Sloveniasmall and large hill respectively)
27. SlovakiaThe following venues will be used:
28. South KoreaVancouver and Richmond - Ice Sports (excluding
29. SpainBobsleigh, Luge and Skeleton)
30. SwitzerlandCallaghan Valley - Nordic events Whistler Mountain - all
31. SwedenAlpine Skiing events
32. TurkeyBlackcomb Mountain - Bobsleigh, Luge and Skeleton
33. The United States of AmericaCypress Mountain - Freestyle Skiing and
34. UkraineSnowboarding events
For The Bahamas and Ghana, the 2010 WinterA small number of additional events were proposed
Olympics will be presenting them with their firstfor the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, but were
opportunity to participate in such an event. This is annot accepted. These include, amongst others,
immense privilege, not only for these first-timers, but forWomen's Ski Jumping, Mixed Doubles Curling and
all participants. An entire nation is represented andTeam Alpine Skiing.
honoured by their athletes, recognised on a globalThe 2010 Winter Paralympics will consist of five
scale for achievements that are not influenced bysporting events:
race, religion or political affiliation. This event is entirely1. Alpine Skiing
about putting the nations' athletic achievements under2. Biathlon
extreme tests. Athletes from these countries have3. Cross-country Skiing
trained for years with the sole goal of representing4. Wheelchair Curling
their country at the 2010 Winter Olympics.5. Sledge Hockey
All of the sporting categories for this event are,With such diversity in sports, venues and athletic
naturally, winter by nature. 86 different sports haveabilities, the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics
been confirmed for this particular Winter Olympics andcertainly promise visitors from all over the world an
are divided into categories.exciting and impressive display of athleticism and
ICE SPORTSdetermination.