Biathlon – a winter combined event consisting of cross-country skiing with shooting at firing ranges from a small-bore rifle. In the sprint, men cover a distance of 10 km, women – 7.5 km. On the course, athletes must hit five targets at two firing ranges (for each miss the athlete runs a 150-meter penalty loop). The 60 athletes who finish first take part in the pursuit race. The time behind is counted in the pursuit race.
In the pursuit race, men run 12.5 km, women – 10 km. Athletes start according to the time shown in the sprint. At the firing range, athletes stop four times and must hit five targets (for each miss the athlete must run a 150-meter penalty loop).
In the individual race, the distance for men is 20 km, for women – 15 km. Athletes stop at firing ranges four times; for each miss one minute is added to the athlete's total time.
In the relay, the team consists of four participants, each of whom must run 7.5 km (men) or 6 km (women) and successfully hit five targets (each athlete has three spare cartridges); for each target missed the athlete runs a 150-meter penalty loop.
In addition, at the 2006 Olympic Games a new discipline is being introduced that has already managed to interest bookmakers – the mass start race.
Bobsleigh – a high-speed descent down mountains along specially equipped ice tracks on steerable sleds – bobs. The sleds are made of an all-metal streamlined body mounted on two pairs of runners-skates: the front – movable with a steering wheel, and the rear – fixed with a brake. Two-seat (double) and four-seat (four-man) bobs are used. The track length is 1.500-2.000 m with 15 turns (minimum radius – 8 m), elevation difference - 130-150 m.
Until 2002, competitions were held only among men. At the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, women took part in two-man bobsled runs. In each event of the Olympic program, a country is represented by no more than two crews. Places are determined by the total time of four runs. In each run, the starting order is determined by drawing lots.
Alpine skiing includes five sporting disciplines: slalom, giant slalom, super-G, downhill, alpine combined. During the descent, athletes must negotiate special courses marked with gates and flags. Results are determined by the total time in two runs on different courses – in slalom, and in one run – in other disciplines. The number of gates in slalom for men is 55-75, for women – 45-65; the elevation difference for men is from 180 to 220 m, for women – from 140 to 200 m. In downhill, the elevation difference for men is from 800 to 1.100 m, for women – from 500 to 800 m; in giant slalom for men – 250-450 m, for women – 250-400 m. In super-G, the elevation difference for men is 500-650 m, for women – 400-600 m.
Each country may be represented by 22 athletes (no more than 14 of one sex), as well as no more than four participants in each alpine skiing discipline.
Curling – a sports game on ice in which two teams of four people compete in accuracy of hitting special projectiles – bits (a disc with a handle weighing 20 kg and measuring 30x40 cm), made of granite and called stones. The playing surface for curling is an elongated rectangle 44.5 m long and 4.75 m wide. The main component of the rink marking is the scoring circle, called the house, with a diameter of 3.66 m. For throwing the stone, an ice track 31 m long is prepared. The goal of the game is to hit the target with the stone, pushing the opponent's stone out of it. When delivering a stone, one of the team's players pushes off from the starting block and, after a short slide from the start line, releases the stone forward. The player tries to calculate the force so that the stone, having reached the scoring area on the opposite side of the rink, stops at the required point, or pushes another stone, or knocks the latter out of the rink (depending on the intended game combination). Each athlete performs two attempts. The winner is the team that scores the greater total number of points. The game consists of 10 separate parts called ends. Team partners are allowed to sweep the ice with special brushes or brooms in the path of the stone, which allows partially adjusting the distance and trajectory of the stone's travel.
Demonstration curling competitions were held at the Winter Olympic Games in 1924, 1932, 1936, 1964 and 1992. In 1994, by decision of the IOC, curling was included in the program of the Winter Olympic Games, where two sets of medals were awarded for men and women.
Speed skating – a sport in which one must cover a distance as quickly as possible on an ice stadium in a closed loop. In the Olympic Games program since 1924 – men, since 1960 – men and women. The modern program includes short (500, 1.000, 1.500 m) and long (3.000, 5.000, 10.000 m) distances. Participants race in pairs: one on the outer lane, the other on the inner lane. On each distance, three athletes from a national team may compete. An absolute championship in all-around is not contested.
Nordic combined – a sport that includes ski jumping and cross-country skiing. Men's competitions are held over two days: on the first day – ski jumping from a 90 m hill; on the second – a 15 km race. The result is determined by the sum of points obtained for performing both exercises.
In the Olympic Games program since 1924. No more than four athletes from each national team may participate in the competitions.
Cross-country skiing – a sport in which athletes need to cover a distance on skis as quickly as possible. It has been in the Olympic Games program since 1924.
For participation in the Olympic Games, each country can be represented by four participants in each discipline, and in the relay race – by one team.
Ski jumping is a sport that includes jumps on skis from specially equipped ski jumps. There are K-90 and K-120 jumps. It has been in the program since 1924. Since 1992, individual competitions for men have been held on 90 m and 120 m jumps, team competitions – on a 120 m jump. The performance of jumps is judged by five judges: technique (style) of performance (maximum – 20 points) and jump distance (according to a special table). A participant's result is determined by the sum of points of two scoring attempts.
From a national team, no more than four athletes may compete in each type of competition.
Luge is a high-speed descent on sports sleds along specially made tracks 800-1200 m long. Tracks must have 11-18 turns (minimum radius – 8 m), with an ice chute width of 130-150 cm, and elevation differences of 70-120 m. It has been in the Olympic Games program since 1964. The modern program includes competitions on single (men and women) and double (mixed) sleds. On single sleds, each team has the right to enter no more than six athletes (three men and three women), on double sleds – no more than two crews; four runs are held for singles, two for doubles. The winner is determined by the lowest total time of all runs. The starting order is determined in each run by drawing lots.
Skeleton is a sport in which an athlete must descend down an ice chute on a two-runner sled headfirst in the shortest possible time. The winner is determined by the sum of two runs.
Snowboarding is an alpine skiing sport that includes various descents from mountains along a special course on a single board – a snowboard – and acrobatic jumps on a snowboard off various jumps. It has been in the Olympic Games program since 1998. The program includes two types of competitions for men and women: giant slalom and halfpipe competitions. The length of the course in giant slalom is 800-1,000 m, elevation difference – 150-300 m, width – at least 20 m, number of gates – at least 20, distance between them – at least 10 m, distance between gate poles – 4-8 m.
When navigating a halfpipe with a total length of 120 m, athletes, after gaining speed, fly upward above the edge of the course to perform jumps, spins, and other acrobatic elements. The competition is judged by five judges, each of whom can give an athlete up to 10 points for acrobatics, spins, flight amplitude, technique of elements, and landing. The winner is determined by the sum of points. After two qualifying competitions, 16 men and 8 women advance to the final. Places in the final are determined by the sum of attempts. Each country can enter 14 athletes, but no more than 8 people of one gender, as well as up to 4 athletes in each type of competition.
Figure skating includes singles (men and women), pair skating, and ice dancing. Olympic competitions in singles and pairs have been held since 1908. In each type of competition, a country can enter one participant or pair; a country whose athletes placed 1-5 in this event at the World Championships in the pre-Olympic year can be represented by three participants (pairs), 6-10 – by two participants (pairs). Performances are judged on a six-point system: in the short program, the technique of eight prescribed elements and the presented program are evaluated; in the free program – technique and artistry; in the free dance – technical mastery and artistic impression. The place of each participant (pair) is determined by the absolute majority of judges (an odd number).
Freestyle skiing is a skiing sport that includes aerials and moguls. In aerials, athletes perform jumps of varying difficulty off special jumps. There are three types of jumps: large (height 3.5 m), medium (3.2 m), and small (2.1 m). The landing area must be covered with loose snow. Points are awarded for the technique of takeoff, height and length of flight, quality of the acrobatic element, landing, and multiplied by the jump's degree of difficulty. The winner is determined by the sum of points for two jumps.
Mogul is a ski descent down a steep bumpy course, complicated by the obligatory performance of two jumps. The winner is determined by the highest sum of points received for the technique of performing turns and jumps, as well as the speed of traversing the course. It has been in the Olympic Games program since 1992.
Short track is a form of speed skating that involves covering a distance as quickly as possible inside a hockey rink (the circumference of the skating rink is 111.12 m). It has been in the Olympic Games program since 1992.
The competition program includes: individual championships in the 500 m, 1,000 m and 1,500 m races (men and women) and a relay race of 3,000 m (women) and 5,000 m (men). Athletes run along the oval circumference of the rink counterclockwise. In the 3,000 and 5,000 m relay, the baton can be passed from one athlete to another at any point on the course by touching any part of the body. An athlete usually pushes his teammate from behind, facilitating a faster completion of the distance. The athlete's uniform consists of a helmet, gloves, and shin and knee pads. No more than four athletes compete in the 1,000 and 5,000 m distances. Five athletes may be entered from each team in the relay.