Cross country skiing – it is the sport of skiing for pleasure across the countryside. Ski jumping is a competitive event in which individuals jump for distance after skiing down a long, sloping hill. Biathlon – combination of cross-country skiing and shooting. Racing downhill – the fastest direct route down the slepe. Ice hockey is a fast winter sport, in which two teams of skaters use long sticks, to drive a rubber disk into a goal. Ice hockey is played in about 30 countries. It is especially popular in Canada, where the modern game developed and, where is the most famous league (NHL). Ice hockey is played on natural ice, on an oval rink. Each player carries a stick, usually made of wood. Players wear helmets, protection pads under their clothing and gloves on their hands. An ice hockey game is divided into three 20-minute periods. In 1920 ice hockey was added to the Olympic Games. Since then Olympic hockey has become one of the most popular events at the Winter Olympics.
One of the most famous players was: Maurice Richard, Bobby Hull, Wayne Gretzky.
THE HIGHLANDS GAMES - 100s of years ago Scottish families (clans) started these games. The most interesting sport is tossing the caber – it means, they have to lift and than throw very long about 6 meters and heavy piece of wood. Some men wear kilts.
Bobsledding is a winter sport, which first became popular in the 19-th century in Saint Moritz. In bobsledding teams of two, or four compete for gold, silver and bronze medal. The most critical part of a bobsled run is the start. Team members sprint, while pushing the sled forward, for about 75 m. The captain, or driver of a bobsled team occupies the front position and steers the sled and the brakeman in the rear position operates the brake. The first organized bobsled competition was in Saint Moritz in 1848. Bobsled national teams competed in the first Winter Olympics in 1924.