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The 2010 Winter Olympic Games |
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The 2010 Winter Olympics: Fun for Everyone!
The highly anticipated Vancouver Winter Olympic Games are coming up next month. Watching them is a great way to bond as a family and get your kids interested in being fit and possibly getting involved in the various sports the Olympics have to offer. Here are some must see events to keep an eye out for in 2010:
1. Ski Jumping
Men’s ski jumping has been part of the Winter Olympic Games since the first Games in 1924. The sport involves the athlete skiing down a long ramp called the “in-run.” The skier then launches into the air at speeds of up to 95 kilometers per hour. Once in the air, the skier forms a “V-style” with his or her skis. Competitors are evaluated on distance and style and while there is a very close relationship between the two, the skier with the longest jump will often have the highest style points.
This event is fun and exciting to watch for the whole family, but we wouldn’t suggest trying this on the slopes unless you are already a pro!
2. Snowboarding
Snowboarding is one of the newest sports to the winter Olympics. It was first introduced at the Nagano Games in 1998. Parallel giant slalom replaced individual giant slalom at the Salt Lake City Games in 2002 and eventually, snowboard cross was introduced in 2006 at the Torino games. Riders are judged either on the difficulty and execution of their tricks (halfpipe) or the speed and precision of their race (slalom, snowboard cross).
With various ski and snowboarding resorts across the country, this activity is fun for kids and parents! Remember, Gold Medalist Shaun White only started snowboarding when he was 13 years old!
3. Figure Skating
There are three different kinds of figure skating—singles, pairs and ice dance. The separate events are overseen by a panel of expert judges who will individually score competitors on a scale of 1-10.
Figure skating is a beautiful and exciting sport that the whole family can enjoy watching. Kids can get involved with the sport by taking lessons at their local ice skating rink.
4. Ice Hockey
Hockey is one of the most watched winter sports. A group of the best players from around the world are chosen to represent their individual country’s team. A team cannot have more than six players on the ice while the game is in progress. The object is for one team to get the puck (a hard black rubber disc) past the other team’s goaltender and into the net.
Hockey is a great sport for kids to get involved in to meet new friends and stay active.
5. Bobsledding
Made even more popular by the 1993 film, Cool Runnings*, bobsledding is a fast-paced and exciting sport to watch. Modern bobsleighs are built to be fast and aerodynamic. To start, the racers push off as fast as they can for 50 meters. The bobsledders then jump into the bobsled for a seated descent down the track. The driver steers while, at the end of the run, the brakeman stops the sled.
* A great film to watch with the family!
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