The Winter Games open February 9 in PyeongChang, South Korea. Almost every Olympics has new competitions, usually after they have built an international following and have been showcased as exhibits during previous games. In 2018, these will include Men’s and Women’s Snowboard Big Air, Team Alpine Skiing, Men’s and Women’s Mass Start Speed Skating, and for the many who have fallen in love with curling, Curling Mixed Doubles. All these events appear to have been selected for the maximum possible TV audience.
While it started out as an X-Games event, extreme athletes will now get their chance to win gold medals in Men’s and Women’s Snowboard Big Air, which sees competitors performing their best spins and tricks after launching off a large (about 160 feet) ramp. For the first time, the Alpine skiing Nations Team Event will make its debut; the event features mixed teams of two men and two women going head-to-head in a series of downhill slalom races in a best-of-four competition.
Get a description of all the new events, with links, at Mental Floss.
(Image credit: Flickr user Tim Snell)