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Not sure how many will be tuning in....

but here goes.

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZz1NPKEYOQ

When does it start?

How many medals do you think we will get?

It's sport. I'll be tuning in, as I do.

Will be shouting at the curling like I understand every nuance and will be screaming "Useless!" at every slip and missed gate in the slalom. Plus pretty much everything else inbetween.

Love the Winter Olympics, really looking forward to it.  Starts 7th I think

Will deffo be watching it. The only thing that really doesn't work for me is the figure skating, it is basically dancing, meh.

Things I am looking forward to ice hockey great sport much underrated in general. Skeleton, bobsleigh etc absolute nutters who do that. Also was loving the snowboard races downhill which I think we're new last time round awesome, a bit like a better version of speed skating.

Out of betting interest

How many British medals?

How many British Golds?

Our realistic chances of one or the other are?

From what I've read. GB are forecast 6 medals. Best chance for Gold in Curling. A more than decent chance in women's skeleton. High hopes in freestyle skiing.

With no strength in depth, I'd suspect 4 medals total, with one gold, is more likely.

Will be closely following the Alpine skiing, obv  :)

Love the mad sliders & jumpers also.

Longy, Let us know which ice hockey matches to watch, the brutal grudge matches.

Why is it we seem to keep producing women who are world class at slidiing down an icy track on a tea-tray? Looks absolutely terrifying.

(http://images.tenplay.com.au/~/media/Sport/Sochi/Marquee%20images/Top%2010%20Feature/SaraTakanashi.jpg)

Who's this?

She'll be a big star in Sochi. She'll be odds on to win gold in her event.

Saw a snowboarding program the other day and there was a lad from the UK in it that was tipped for a medal chance.  He's made his own flashy move up and has been the only one to nail it so far (program air date) and the commentators were saying he had a great chance with it.  Can't remember his name sadly but I doubt we have loads of snowboarders.  It was the downhill jumping event, not the half-pipe, if there's a difference.

Edit - I think it's Billy Morgan

Cheers Graham, slopestyle is his event, for the cool dudes!

Been reading a little on this, to see if there is a betting angle.

http://www.oddschecker.com/winter-olympics/snowboarding/olympic-snowboarding-mens-slopestyle/winner

GBs cool girl Aimee Fuller goes in the womens slopestyle.

(http://www.redbull.co.uk/cs/RedBull/RBImages/000/000/114/513/photo610x343a/1302_INT_AimeeFuller_AlexDeMora.jpg)

Qualification is before the opening ceremony. Final on saturday I think.

Seems like the12-1 is worth an interest, thanks very much.

triple corks!

http://snowboarding.transworld.net/1000219991/photos/sochi-2014-mens-olympic-slopestyle-outlook/

Pre race favourite has busted a rib. So Max who has been "stomping the piss out back-to-back triples for the first time" could be the value bet here?

Yeah could be worth a couple of quid.  Worthy of a post from me in TfT?  Maybe I won't push it.....

Can't seem to back e/w at 12/1 on Sportingbet, am I doing something wrong or is it not possible?  ignore that, doesn't seem possible. Would like a top 3 market I think

:) bookies have priced win only, with six fellas all within a few points, it's probably more open than at first glance. I've not bet yet, you can normally find a few hints from the training.

Has been some controversy over the course jumps in training.

Comments from Max "Today it was perfect. There is nothing to complain about. I don't think it can get much better."

Morris says he's still in pain from the rib injury, but still confident.

I've taken the punt on Max Parrot @ 5/1.

Qualification tomorrow for the saturday final.

Guys is this on tv? What channel? Billy Morgan 12-1 2 places with Labrokes 1/3, worth a small interest?

Not sure about Morgan, although his chances improved with the withdrawal of Shaun White.

Qualification early tomorrow morning, not sure yet which channel if any.

I'll try and look if I can see it anywhere later on too.  I took the 12/1 the other day, perhaps a little keen.

As to whether or not he's value, I'm not really sure.  He came 4th in the world champs last year and finished the season 2nd in the world rankings.  With Shaun pulling out, he's got to have a decent chance, but he was injured.  My mug view is that the second best snowboarder in the world is worth a shot at 12/1 but then I guess there's a reason he's as high as 12's. 

My bet on Max is really based on his form & confidence in winning the X games a few weeks ago, plus some comments from blogs (admittedly Canadian).  

Betty have a market up, some money for Max at 5/1.

Looks to me that Billys best shot is bronze.

BF have a top 3 market too

Your right Graham, sounds like Billy is carry an injury.

http://www.teamgb.com/news/morgan-ready-have-some-fun-after-olympics

On the BBC Red Button (301 on Freeview) from 6AM tomorrow.

cheers cws, doubt I'll be up at 6.

Definitely will be tracking the downhill training tomorrow.

I've had a look at womens slopestyle.

Jamie Anderson by all accounts is a good favourite. She's more than a touch hippy dippy, crystals & tree hugging...

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtYwaBL5Fdw

However, a quote from today: “The course is a little intense,” Anderson said. “Everyone’s making the best of it. I’m having a questionable time getting used to it. But I’m just being slow, patient, taking them one jump at a time. At the end of the day, we’re just snowboarding." too relaxed & laid back for the mfking Olympics for me  :)

Needs an ice cool young Norwegian with great form & a no fear attitude imo.

(http://gfx.dagbladet.no/labrador/158/158690/15869021/jpg/active/729x.jpg)

Silje Norendal was the winner at the X games two weeks ago. Currently ahead in the World Snowboard Tour rankings.

http://xgames.espn.go.com/snowboarding/article/9071894/x-games-tignes-silje-norendal-wins-women-snowboard-slopestyle-final

6/1 available in a few spots.

Outsider: Isabel Derungs.

Short track speed skating is the nuts.

Brilliant sport.

Different language to me, but heis second run was very impressive, 97 something best so far. In with a great shout.

awesome dude!  :)

What do you think of Lizzie Arnold in the Skeleton, was reading she was nearly a second faster than her rivals in official practice, Bookies have her favourite, although Amy Williams was saying that you could see who was trying hard in practice and who was testing their equipment, reckons Lizzie was trying hard so maybe the nearly a second is a bit deceiving?

2.6 best price with Laddies.

http://www.oddschecker.com/winter-olympics/skeleton/olympic-skeleton-womens/winner

Watched some slopestyle this morning, what a waste of time, thought it was utter tosh. Looking forward to the proper stuff starting.

As long as that tosh wins me some money I'm alright with it.

kinda agree, not really mean't to appeal to the older generation  :D

not looked at that at all, good luck.

I dunno i guess i think boarding looks pretty bowl, freestyle skiing looks so much more impressive to me.

any tips Flushy let us know?

I'm inclined to agree with the boarding.  I don't mind the big jumps but the running over those pink ramps just seems pointless.  Also can't work out how someone can basically go all the way down and just grab their board in each jump and get a great score, yet Jenny went down doing back flips and somersaults and yet is struggling with the points.

hmm Silje Norendal needs to qualify through the semi final.

Isabel Derungs got straight through to the final.

Sochi photographed from Space

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bf4h809IUAAEAxx.png)

Max dropped the final jump in the first run  :(

GB Jamie in bronze at the moment  :)

Amazing photo.

The Airport, bottom left, is quite an interesting one. Due to the mountains, landings & take-offs can ONLY take place on the seaward side. Must make for some scary moments when the wind is the wrong way. Aircraft land & take off best against the wind.

Fortunately, Air Safety in that part of the world is exemplary, obv. 

We put several machines into Sochi for the concrete roads and tunnels.

Can confirm along with the landing, being in tunnels built along massive fault lines are not pleasant places to be!

Enjoyed seeing the two brits this morning, such a harsh sport, one mistake and its all over.

Scoring seems to be a mystery, even the commentators were at a loss at what was happening.

Downhill tomorrow:

'This course can kill you': A treacherous downhill http://wintergames.ap.org/article/course-can-kill-you-treacherous-downhill

(http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2014/2/8/1391854616240/Bode-Miller-011.jpg)

Go Bode!

This slopestyle thing has been fascinating. I don't find the thing itself entertaining, though obviously impressive.

Because it's the first time it's been I'm the Olympics, it strikes me that the participants just don't give a shit. Not in a bad way, they all just seem to be messing around, having a laugh and not feeling any pressure at all.

The commentators are awful.

It was quite exciting at the end with the Brit getting the medal because even though I have no idea what makes a good run, i do know that the other people falling over is good.

I'm trying desperately to get into it all, but it's no London 2012 is it. Strangely looking forward to the curling funnily enough.

I noticed that as well - some girl comes down the mountain mostly on her arse and as soon as she crosses the finish line she's all smiles hugging with the other competitors.

Never thought I would see the day that I was stood up in my living room cheering on a female snowboarder. Didn't even have any money on. Enjoying it much more than I thought I would. Got 2 guys in the mens final as well.

+1 on the commentary being utterly woeful.

Pretty certain it is because they are mostly friends and have some sort of tight community between each other, strange though, it's like they don't want to show disappointment.

It's no more so than when you watch the darts and they exchange smiles between shots and hug and kiss afterwards.

I love Olympics commentary because you get completely partisan commentary on some events like Steve Cram does in the middle distance events or Adrian Morehouse in the swimming. It is one of the things that makes the Olympics and Winter Olympics for me. Never get Barry Davies standing up and screaming "Come on!!" with tears rolling down his cheek.

I love the bias shown in the commentary, it's the lack of knowledge and general rambling that I don't like. A good example of this was when one of them said "just 13 riders left to go" there had already been 3 down and there are only 12 in the whole thing to start with..

Loved the commentary, more passion & emotion the better.

Oh & wd Jenny & the girls, all seem cool & genuine. 

Also love the bias but they kept saying how much the 'Brit had dominated the Olympics' - she came third.

Also I'm being a misery guts, but I found the three of them claiming their were all crying seemed disingenuous.

Currently trying to watch Ice Hockey, its hard to get into a sport when you cant see the thing they are using to score points.

Barry Davies' great commentary moment at the Olympics:

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfO6hUCRMgI

Where were the Germans?  But frankly....who cares?

Glad somebody got that reference :)

One of the best bits of commentary ever :)

Drama in the halfpipe!

I know very little about some of this sports but things like the half-pipe, snowboarding, moguls etc are sensational television

Speed Skating fun too

The cross country sprint earlier was nuts


love the curling too

I am a fan

Really enjoyed the half pipe. Lots of drama/characters in that one, and some good falls.

Tonji I think either you or CWS tipped up Manescu at a big price for Alpine downhill skiing, and Fenninger.

Am I right in thinking this is tomorrow?

I'm curious cos I backed Manescu @ 50's but she's into 4's. Has she become a penguin?

Am i looking at the right market?

http://www.oddschecker.com/winter-olympics/alpine-skiing/olympic-alpine-skiing-womens-downhill/winner

Just done an update on TfT.

Mancuso could be a sweet sweat. Good luck.

7 am start in UK.

In the curling what would be the penalty for one of the sweepers accidentally kicking a stone that they were trying to step over?

I don't think there is one. It's like an even more exaggerated version of snooker or cricket, where the spirit of the game is upheld above all else. The skips would agree what should happen and that is likely to be putting it back where it was. Obviously, that's more difficult if a stone was in play at the time and the one kicked would have been moved.

Happy to be wrong on that.

Stone is replaced and the live stone removed iirc.

Sandy

This luge pairs event on the telly now is a funny event. The bloke underneath must have the easiest job of any Olympian surely? How do they train for that?

The back half of a panto-donkey?

I'd love to have been in the IOC meeting in the 60's where they decided they must have the mens double Luge but under no circumstances should women be allowed to Ski Jump!!!!!

back end of a luge steers with his feet doesn't he?

Front end is the massive bloke, power off the line...every hundredth counts off the start

back end has to be really small and light?

Very odd to watch though!

The final of the pairs is absolutely fantastic quality if you like this kind of thing.

The legendary Protopopovs who were my mum's idols are in the live audience too, they must be in their 80's now.

From wiki

Burning a stone
Occasionally, players may accidentally touch a stone with their broom or a body part. This is often referred to as burning a stone. Players touching a stone in such a manner are expected to call their own infraction (see Good sportsmanship). Touching a stationary stone when no stones are in motion (there is no delivery in progress) is not an infraction (unless the stationary stone is struck in such a manner that its position is altered), and is a common way for the skip to indicate a stone that is to be taken out.
When a stone is touched when stones are in play, the remedies vary[14][24] between placing the stones as they end up after the touch, replacing the stones as they would have been if no stone were touched, or removal of the touched stone from play. In non-officiated league play, the skip of the non-offending team has the final say on where the stones are placed after the infraction.

This is a great strategy game curling. Today's game GB v CAN was all on the last stone and our skip could of easily tied the game but decided to go all in! What a balls up. In running betting on the finals would be a complete punt and laugh.

Canadian third was giving me the horn a bit as she had her top unzipped and the camera angle was a doozie. Yep. This is my favourite Olympic event.

James Woods going in the slopestyle final...

chance of a medal I hope.

Carrying a knock?

bruised hip apparently. One do or die run for glory!

Speed skating relays are just barmy.

Medal chance for GB in womens speed skating coming up. Go Scottish girl!

oh my!

Gutted I came 5th lol ;frustrated;

Funking for Lizzy, go go go!

It's not a bad lead to hold, but owt can happen. WIN WIN WIN pls.

phew one run down...

Phew, just the 120th mention of Amy Williams by Amy Williams! The commentary in these games is awful!

Just got in and switched...so right it's the Amy show lol

Yarnold is pretty impressive.  So very dominant. 

One more run to go...

GOLD!!!

 ;applause; ;applause; ;applause; ;applause; ;applause;

Boom boom, thanks for all the gold Lizzie, fantastic absolutely fantastic.

That was fantastic!
Well done Lizzie, sliding like a boss!   ;yippee;

Wtf was that dq decision about?

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BghIp2pIYAAeX2E.jpg:large)

Very happy to see the wonderful Anna Fenniger win the Super G this morning  :)

It's absolutely amazing that there have already been two 0-0 draws in the ice-hockey.

It's often the case that there are two 0-0's or less in the entire NHL season and they are usually considered to be the highest quality games normally occurring during the play-offs if at all.

Has the game changed since I used to follow it closely several decades ago?

Fantastic women's GS. Superb skiing.

Wow Christie was immense in the 1000m today

Funking for her big time.

Exciting & brutal biathlon race, so close.

All the x-games type events have been superb recent additions to the olympics, some of the snowboarding racing events have been great to watch this time.

Just fist pumped to curling

Is there any reason to have separate Curling competitions for men and women, apart from them having more medals to share out?

Why only discuss Curling?

Were the Russian women's team playing?

My bad, was a typo, I meant to put beach volleyball.

 ;applause; ;applause; ;applause; GB Women Curlers

Fantastic

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bg6gQLzCQAEaxp-.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bg6i8IVIAAAqSXH.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bg6g0sRCEAE-Qci.jpg)

ski cross

best photo finish ever?

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bg6hvwZIcAAv2Iw.jpg)

As medals go it's not a great one. None of the team would have taken a bronze pre event. It's decent but they haven't exceeded expectation.

I still supported them in the game and willed them to win.

Sandy

was rooting for this fella  :)

(http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Filip+Flisar+Audi+FIS+Ski+Cross+World+Cup+oVw7IB_uZU4l.jpg)

Have grown to like this curling malarkey. I enjoy how the GB (I mean Scottish) skip wears his heart on his sleeve!

Also enjoy this commentary from Sir David Attenborough. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/winter-olympics/26257895

Good luck the curling fellas today, a second gold would be above expectations.

(http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/8520621f6555017d7eb1dae23fd8d308f566ec7d/c=955-97-2985-2807&r=537&c=0-0-534-712/local/-/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2014/02/18//1392717334000-USATSI-7740916.jpg)

Really rooting for USA's young superstar Mikalea Schriffin to win gold in the slalom. Massive pressure on her, she's been the stand out skier all season. Big sweat on my bank account  :)

Knew nothing of the winter olympics two weeks ago, but now I am massively funking for Elise Christie today - what a feel good story it will be if she bags a medal after what must have been a horrible two weeks.

are having a mare  :(

Colour by Eve "you know what?" Muirhead.

Will be one of the great comebacks. Good luck her.

ugh, gutted for Elise.

(http://www.nbcolympics.com/sites/nbcolympics.com/files/styles/chromed_header_image_detail_1024_600/public/article/thumbnail/slalomflower5.6_getty.jpg?itok=rQsqXXUX)

Stunning performance  ;)