Discuss+Winter+Olympics+2010

** The Winter [|Olympic Games] ** are a winter [|multi-sport event] held every four years. They feature [|winter sports] held on snow or ice, such as [|Alpine skiing], [|cross-country skiing], [|figure skating], [|bobsledding] and [|ice hockey]. Cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, [|Nordic combined], [|ski jumping], and [|speed skating] have been competed at every Winter Olympics since 1924. Other athletic events have been added as the Games have progressed. Some of these events, such as [|luge], [|short track speed skating], and [|freestyle skiing] have earned a permanent spot on the Olympic programme. Others, like [|speed skiing], [|bandy], and [|skijöring] have been [|demonstration sports] but never incorporated officially as an Olympic sport. Fewer countries participate in the Winter Olympics than the [|Summer Olympics]. The [|first Winter Olympics] were held in [|Chamonix], France in 1924. Prior to this, figure skating and ice hockey had been events at the Summer Olympics. The Games were held every four years from 1924 until 1940 when they were interrupted by [|World War II]. The Winter and Summer Games resumed in [|1948] and were celebrated on the same year until [|1992]. At that time the Winter Games split from the Summer Games, and were begun to be celebrated on alternating even years. The first Winter Olympic Games to be held on this new schedule was in [|1994] in [|Lillehammer], Norway. [] i) Do you know some newer sports to be introduced to the winter Olympics?   ii)  Discuss/ describe the following sports? b) Nordic combined   c)  Bob sledding d) Double luge   e)  Skeleton f) Speed skating   g)  Figure skating iii)What is the difference between Alpine Skiing and cross country skiing?  iv)Discuss/ debate in small groups your opinion of which competition events require the most strength and technical expertise? v)Do you think some events should not be an Olympic event but simply a sport or cultural/ artistic competition?  ** Slalom ** is an [|alpine skiing] discipline, involving skiing between poles (gates) spaced much closer together than in [|Giant Slalom], [|Super-G] or [|Downhill], thereby causing quicker and shorter turns.   ** "Downhill skiing ** " is also commonly a term for "alpine skiing" to mean the sport and recreational activity of [|alpine skiing] in general.    More generally, the term may be used in any sport involving the speedy descent of a hillside. Examples include [|snowboarding], [|mountain biking] , different [|skateboarding] variants, such as [|street luge] and [|longboarding] , freebording and [|mountain boarding] and even [|municycling]. Racers on a typical international-level course will exceed speeds of 130 km/hr (81 mph). Competing in the downhill event requires of racers considerable strength and technical expertise. The [|Olympic Charter] defines winter sports as "sports which are practiced on snow or ice."__ [ __ Through the years, the number of [|sports and events] conducted at the Winter Olympic Games has increased. There have also been [|Demonstration sports], which are contests held but for which no medals are awarded.
 * __ Discussing events and giving opinions  __**
 * __ Discuss with your partner: __**
 * What are the 2 sports in the pictures?  **

Current sport disciplines
** Sport ** || ** Years ** || ** No of events ** || **Medal events scheduled for 2010**[|[115]] || [|Alpine skiing] || Since 1936 || 10 || Men's and women's [|downhill], [|super giant slalom] , [|giant slalom] , [|slalom] and [|Alpine combined] .[|[116]] || [|Biathlon] || Since 1960 || 10 || The Sprint (men: 10 km; women: 7.5 km), the individual (men: 20 km; women: 15 km), the pursuit (men: 12.5 km; women: 10 km), the relay (men: 4x7.5 km; women: 4x6 km), and the mass start (men: 15 km; women: 12.5 km).[|[117]] || [|Bobsled] || 1924–1956 1964–present || 3 || Four-man race, two-man race and two-woman race.[|[118]] || [|Cross-country skiing] || Since 1924 || 12 || Men's sprint, team sprint, 30 km pursuit, 15 km, 50 km and 4x10 km relay; women's sprint, team sprint, 15 km pursuit, 10 km, 30 km (women) and 4x5 km relay.[|[119]] || [|Curling] || 1924 1998–present || 2 || Men's and women's tournaments.[|[120]] || [|Figure skating] || Since 1924[|Note 1] || 4 || Men's and women's singles; pairs; and ice dancing.[|[121]] || [|Freestyle skiing] || Since 1992 || 6 || Men's and women's [|moguls], [|aerials] and [|skicross] .[|[122]] || [|Ice hockey] || Since 1924[|Note 2] || 2 || Men's and women's tournaments.[|[123]] || [|Luge] || Since 1964 || 3 || Men's and women's singles, men's doubles.[|[124]] || [|Nordic combined] || Since 1924 || 3 || Men's 10 km individual normal hill, 10 km individual large hill and team.[|[125]] || [|Short track speed skating] || Since 1992 || 8 || Men's and women's 500 metres, 1000 metres, 1500 metres; women's 3000 metre relay; and men's 5000 metre relay.[|[126]] || [|Skeleton] || 1924; 1948 Since 2002 || 2 || Men's and women's events.[|[127]] || [|Ski jumping] || Since 1924 || 3 || Men's individual large hill, individual small hill and team large hill.[|[128]] || [|Snowboarding] || Since 1998 || 6 || Men's and women's parallel giant slalom, half-pipe and snowboard cross.[|[129]] || [|Speed skating] || Since 1924 || 12 || Men's and women's 500 metres, 1000 metres, 1500 metres, 5000 metres and team pursuit; women's 3000 metres; men's 10000 metres.[|[130]] || ** Games  ** || ** Year  ** || ** Host  ** || ** Dates  ** || ** Nations  ** |||||| ** Competitors  ** || ** Sports  ** || ** Events  ** || ** Total  ** || ** Men  ** || ** Women  ** ||^   ||^   || [|I] || 1924  ||      [|Chamonix], [|France] || 25 January – 5 February || 16  ||    258   ||    247   ||    11   ||    6   ||    16   ||  [|II]  || 1928  ||      [|St. Moritz], [|Switzerland] || 11–19 February || 25  ||    464   ||    438   ||    26   ||    4   ||    14   ||  [|III]  || 1932  ||      [|Lake Placid], [|United States] || 4–15 February || 17  ||    252   ||    231   ||    21   ||    4   ||    14   ||  [|IV]  || 1936  ||      [|Garmisch-Partenkirchen], [|Germany] || 6–16 February || 28  ||    646   ||    566   ||    80   ||    4   ||    17   ||     ||   [|1940]  |||||||||||||||| // Originally awarded to Sapporo, Japan, cancelled because of World War II //  || ||  [|1944]  |||||||||||||||| // Originally awarded to Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, cancelled because of World War II. //  ||  [|V]  || 1948  ||      [|St. Moritz], [|Switzerland] || 30 January – 8 February || 28  ||    669   ||    592   ||    77   ||    4   ||    22   ||  [|VI]  || 1952  ||      [|Oslo], [|Norway] || 14–25 February || 30  ||    694   ||    585   ||    109   ||    4   ||    22   ||  [|VII]  || 1956  ||      [|Cortina d'Ampezzo], [|Italy] || 26 January – 5 February || 32  ||    821   ||    687   ||    134   ||    4   ||    24   ||  [|VIII]  || 1960  ||      [|Squaw Valley], [|United States] || 18–28 February || 30  ||    665   ||    521   ||    144   ||    4   ||    27   ||  [|IX]  || 1964  ||      [|Innsbruck], [|Austria] || 29 January – 9 February || 36  ||    1091   ||    892   ||    199   ||    6   ||    34   ||  [|X]  || 1968  ||      [|Grenoble], [|France] || 6–18 February || 37  ||    1158   ||    947   ||    211   ||    6   ||    35   ||  [|XI]  || 1972  ||      [|Sapporo], [|Japan] || 3–13 February || 35  ||    1006   ||    801   ||    205   ||    6   ||    35   ||  [|XII]  || 1976  ||      [|Innsbruck], [|Austria] || 4–15 February || 37  ||    1123   ||    892   ||    231   ||    6   ||    37   ||  [|XIII]  || 1980  ||      [|Lake Placid], [|United States] || 13–24 February || 37  ||    1072   ||    840   ||    232   ||    6   ||    38   ||  [|XIV]  || 1984  ||      [|Sarajevo], [|Yugoslavia] || 8–19 February || 49  ||    1272   ||    998   ||    274   ||    6   ||    39   ||  [|XV]  || 1988  ||      [|Calgary], [|Canada] || 13–28 February || 57  ||    1423   ||    1122   ||    301   ||    6   ||    46   ||  [|XVI]  || 1992  ||      [|Albertville], [|France] || 8–23 February || 64  ||    1801   ||    1313   ||    488   ||    7   ||    57   ||  [|XVII]  || 1994  ||      [|Lillehammer], [|Norway] || 12–27 February || 67  ||    1737   ||    1215   ||    522   ||    6   ||    61   ||  [|XVIII]  || 1998  ||      [|Nagano], [|Japan] || 7–22 February || 72  ||    2176   ||    1389   ||    787   ||    7   ||    68   ||  [|XIX]  || 2002  ||      [|Salt Lake City], [|United States] || 8–24 February || 77  ||    2399   ||    1513   ||    886   ||    7   ||    78   ||  [|XX]  || 2006  ||      [|Turin], [|Italy] || 10–26 February || 80  ||    2508   ||    1548   ||    960   ||    7   ||    84   ||  [|XXI]  || 2010  ||      [|Vancouver], [|Canada] , //ongoing event//  || 12–28 February || 82  ||    2629   ||    --   ||    --   ||    7   ||    86   || // [|XXII] //  || // 2014 //  ||      // [|Sochi], [|Russia] // || // 7–23 February // || // [|XXIII] // || // 2018 //  ||  // TBD // (2011)  || // TBD // || Notice the spelling of the word __affected__ it is not a mistake what does it mean__?__ He was __affected__ by the medication. The __effect__ of the medication made him sick.
 * Do you know the following events? Discuss. Where could you find the answers?  **
 * Refer to the table above to discuss your opinion of the following questions. **
 * 1) What is the flag in the year 1936? Why?
 * 2) Discuss the number of women competing over the years
 * 3) Why was there an increase in women in 1936 and a decrease in 1948?
 * 4) Why is there an increase in countries? Do you know any world events that have __affected__ numbers?
 * 5) Why are there more men than women?
 * A challenge for homework! **