2018 Winter Olympics: Preview of the Games in Pyeongchang

By Gabe Fernandez

In the United States, a 14-hour time difference between South Korea and the East Coast means watching the Games live will be challenge at times, but Olympic enthusiasts have plenty to look forward to. NBC, the official U.S. broadcast partner, hasn’t aired an opening ceremony live since the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver and will continue that trend in 2018, but there are other ways to tune in.

How to watch the opening ceremony live

There are two opportunities for viewers in the U.S. to catch the opening ceremony, hosted by NBC's Katie Couric and Mike Tirico. Early risers can watch a live stream of the performance from Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium online starting at 6 a.m. ET at  NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app. Live streaming is also available on fuboTV.

American viewers will get another opportunity to witness a curated version on NBC at 8 p.m. ET.

Where is the opening ceremony held?

Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium, a 35,000-seat open-air pentagonal stadium, is the primary venue for the 2018 Games and the site of the opening and closing ceremonies.

Storylines to watch at the opening ceremony

North and South Korea announced a combined Olympic team for the first time ever, a symbolic gesture in attempt to thaw decades of tension between the nations. The two Koreas plan to march together under a unified flag at the opening ceremony and also agreed to form a joint women’s ice hockey team. A delegation of 22 North Koreans were given exceptional late entries by the International Olympic Committee, including 12 women's hockey players. They rest will compete in figure skating, short track speed skating, Alpine skiing and cross-country skiing.

Ralph Lauren is back in charge of creating the outfits for the U.S. Olympians to wear during their march. The company has released what the closing ceremony outfits will look like, but has not revealed anything about what will be worn on Feb. 9.

In Sochi, Ralph Lauren made headlines with the choice to go with the patriotic cardigans for those opening ceremonies.

Opening ceremony program of events

The Telegraph has reported the ceremony will broadly follow the same structure as the show put on by the Russians in Sochi four years ago.

1. Entry by the head of state
2. Playing of the national anthem
3. The parade of participants
4. The symbolic release of pigeons
5. The head of state declares the Games open
6. Raising the Olympic flag and playing the Olympic anthem
7. The taking of the Olympic oath by an athlete
8. The taking of the Olympic oath by an official
9. The taking of the Olympic oath by a coach
10. The Olympic flame and the torch relay
11. The artistic program

The symbolic release of pigeons has some history at the Olympics in South Korea. During the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, a number of birds were accidentally incinerated when the Olympic torch was lit during the opening ceremony, so no actual doves will be released in 2018.

By Thomas Lott

Luger Erin Hamlin has been named Team USA's flag bearer for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

"Winning a medal is the effort you put in and the time and the work and sacrifice to succeed and achieve something," Hamlin told USA Today Sports. "That's all on me. That's something I've done. Getting this honor is different because its people looking at the work you've put in and acknowledging that. It's my fellow Team USA athletes who gave me this. That means a ton."

Hamlin earned a bronze medal in the 2014 Winter Olympics which broke a 34-year streak of the podium being occupied solely by German and Austrian women.

"The nerves will be flying for sure," Hamlin said. "I slide that's what I do. Put me at the top of a track; that's my happy place. Walking out in front of a lot of people and even more people watching from home ... that's going to be way more nerve wracking."

The opening ceremony will be Friday.

While Hamlin was thrilled by the honor, there was one Olympian who was not fond of the decision.

Speedskater Shani Davis expressed his unhappiness on Twitter.

"I am an American and when I won the 1000m in 2010 I became the first American to 2-peat in that event," he wrote. "@TeamUSA dishonorably tossed a coin to decide its 2018 flag bearer. No problem. I can wait until 2022. #BlackHistoryMonth2018 #PyeongChang2018."

I am an American and when I won the 1000m in 2010 I became the first American to 2-peat in that event. @TeamUSA dishonorably tossed a coin to decide its 2018 flag bearer. No problem. I can wait until 2022. #BlackHistoryMonth2018 #PyeongChang2018 pic.twitter.com/dsmTtNkhJs

— Shani Davis (@ShaniDavis) February 8, 2018

Here's a viewers guide to what looks like an exciting 23rd Olympiad for Team USA. All times are ET based on NBC's coverage and subject to change.

Find results of each event here. 

Saturday, Feb. 10 

—Cross-country skiing: Women will compete in the 7.5km+7.5km skiathlon gold medal final (2:00 a.m., NBCSN).

—Short track speed skating: Coverage of the men's 1500m gold medal final will take place (5:00 a.m., NBCSN).

—Ski jumping: Men will compete in the normal hill individual final (7:35 a.m., NBCSN).

—Speed skating: Women will compete in the 3000m gold medal final (1 p.m., NBCSN).

—Biathlon: Team USA will look to create a piece of history bringing home the first medal for the sport in the women’s 7.5km sprint gold medal final, and Susan Dunklee is expected to lead the Americans (1:00 p.m., NBCSN).

—Snowboarding: The men’s slopestyle event begins with qualifying runs. Chris Corning is the top U.S. contender making his Olympic debut at only 18-years-old (Finals begin live starting at 8 p.m., NBCSN).

—Alpine skiing: Men will compete in downhill skiing (Live starting at 8 p.m., NBC).

Sunday, Feb. 11 

—Women's hockey: In Group A play, USA will take on Finland with two-time Olympic silver medalist Hilary Knight expected to lead the Americans. Women's hockey will be a storyline to follow as they are co-favorite for gold with rival Canada (Live starting at 2:40 a.m., NBCSN).

—Cross-country skiing: Men will compete in the 15km+15km skiathlon (7:45 a.m., NBCSN / 3 p.m. NBC).

—Speed skating: Coverage of the men's 5000m will take place (Live starting at 5:00 a.m., NBCSN / 3 p.m. NBC).

—Biathlon: The U.S. has not made the podium in biathlon, but enters this Winter Olympics with multiple shots at making history. Lowell Bailey will lead Team USA in the men’s 10km sprint (Live starting at 5 a.m., NBCSN / 3 p.m. NBC).

—Luge: Men will compete in singles (1:30 p.m., NBCSN).

—Freestyle skiing: During primetime coverage, women will compete in the moguls (Live starting at 7 p.m., NBC).

—Snowboarding: Veteran Jamie Anderson, defending gold medalist, will lead the U.S. with a good chance of winning another medal in the women’s slopestyle. Julia Marino (20) and Hailey Langland (17) will also represent the U.S. (Live starting at 8 p.m., NBCSN). Chloe Kim and teammate Kelly Clark, the most decorated Olympic snowboarder of all time, look to advance in the qualifying-round of women’s halfpipe action (Live starting at 11:35 p.m., NBC).

—Figure skating: Live coverage features the final phases of the team event (Live starting at 7 p.m., NBC).

—Alpine skiing: Mikaela Shiffrin will compete in the women's slalom looking to build off of her performance from 2014 where she became the youngest ever to win an Olympic gold in the slalom at the age of 18 (7 p.m., NBC). Coverage continues with the gold medal final (Live starting at 11:35 p.m., NBC).

Monday, Feb. 12

—Biathlon: Susan Dunklee will be one to watch in the women’s 10km pursuit as she competes after earning a bronze medal in Sochi (Live starting at 5:10 a.m., NBCSN).

—Freestyle skiing: Moguls competition will take place for the men (10 a.m., NBCSN / 3 p.m. NBC).

—Biathlon: Men will compete in the 12.5km pursuit (12:15 p.m., NBCSN).

—Ski jumping: Sarah Hendrickson will be the top competitor for the U.S. in women’s normal hill as she looks to take take down reigning gold medalist Carina Vogt of Germany (11:00 a.m., NBCSN / 3 p.m. NBC).

—Speed skating: Team USA has potential to medal in the women's 1500m with a team led by Heather Bergsma and Brittany Bowe (1:30 p.m., NBCSN / 8 p.m., NBC).

—Snowboarding: Chloe Kim will lead a women's halfpipe field along with 2002 Olympic champion Kelly Cark. Shaun White will also compete in his first event of Pyeongchang in men's halfpipe in pursuit of a third Olympic title (Live starting at 8 p.m., NBC).

Tuesday, Feb. 13 

—Alpine skiing: 2006 gold medalist Ted Ligety will compete in the slalom phase of the men's super combined (Live starting at 12:05 a.m., NBC).

—Luge: Germany is a big threat in this event, but Team USA's Erin Hamlin will lead the Americans in the women's single coming off a bronze medal in 2014 (5 a.m., NBCSN / 9:30 a.m. NBCSN).

—Women’s hockey: The U.S. will battle against Russia with Hillary Knight and Brianna Decker leading Team USA (Live starting at 7:10 a.m., NBCSN).

—Speed skating: In the men’s 1500m, Joey Manti and Shani Davis will be one's to watch for the United States. Davis earned silver at this distance in 2006 and 2010 (11:30 a.m. NBCSN / 3 p.m., NBC).

—Cross-country skiing: Coverage includes men’s and women's individual sprint events (9:30 a.m., NBCSN / 3 p.m., NBC).

—Short track speed skating: Women compete in the 500m (12:30 p.m., NBCSN).

—Curling: The Pyeongchang Games marks the first-ever Olympic gold medal final in mixed doubles, and John Shuster is expected to lead the way for Team USA (2:30 p.m., CNBC).

—Snowboarding: Shaun White will compete in the men’s halfpipe gunning for a third gold in this event (8 p.m., NBC).

—Figure skating: Alexa Scimeca Knierim and Chris Knierim, a husband-and-wife duo, will represent the U.S. in pairs' short program (Live at 8:00 p.m., NBC).

Wednesday, Feb. 14

—Alpine skiing: Mikaela Shiffrin will be back on the slopes making a run at gold in the women’s slalom (12:05 a.m., NBC).

—Nordic combined: Men will compete in the individual normal hill event (Live starting at 2:30 a.m., NBCSN live / 3 p.m., NBC).

—Speed skating: The women’s 1000m will be a key event to watch as reigning world champion Heather Bergsma represents the U.S. (Live starting at 5:00 a.m., NBCSN live / Live starting at 8 p.m. NBC).

—Men’s hockey: On the opening day of men's hockey, USA will take on Slovenia in Group B action and will feature a roster full of collegiate athletes, AHL players and European leagues (Live starting at 6:30 a.m., NBCSN).

—Luge: Matt Mortensen and Jayson Terdiman are huge contenders for Team USA in the men’s doubles (9:30 a.m., NBCSN / 3 p.m. NBC).

—Biathlon: Women will compete in the 15km individual (11:30 a.m., NBCSN).

—Figure skating: The figure skating pairs' free skate concludes (Live starting at 8 p.m. NBC).

—Alpine skiing: In the men’s super-G, Andrew Weibrecht looks to bring home a third consecutive Alpine medal in this event (Live starting at 8 p.m., NBC).

—Women’s hockey: USA will face Canada in what amounts to a crucial rivalry game for the Americans. Canada walked away with a gold medal after the 2014 Olympics, but Team USA will look to rebound as they enter the Winter Games as co-favorites for the gold (Live starting at 10:10 p.m., NBCSN).

Thursday, Feb. 15 

—Snowboarding: The U.S. has a field with a lot of depth in the men’s snowboard cross, but Team USA will have to look out for France's Pierre Vaultier, who won Olympic gold in 2014 (Live starting at 12:05 a.m., NBC).

—Cross-country skiing: The U.S. hasn't won an Olympic medal in Cross-Country Skiing, but there's a chance Jessie Diggins could make history for the U.S. in the women’s 10km freestyle event (5:00 a.m., NBCSN).

—Speed skating: The men will compete in the 10,000m (9:30 a.m., NBCSN / 3:00 p.m., NBC).

—Luge: The team relay will certainly be one to watch as Team USA finished in second-place at last year's World Championships (9:30 a.m., NBCSN).

—Biathlon: In the men’s 20km individual, Lowell Bailey could be a huge contender to give the U.S. hardware in this sport for the first time (12:00 p.m., NBCSN / 1:05 a.m. NBC).

—Skeleton: The men will take final runs with 2014 bronze medalist Matt Antoine and John Daly leading Team USA (Live starting at 8:00 p.m., NBC).

—Snowboarding: Lindsey Jacobellis is looking to rebound in the snowboard cross after falling short of gold in the 2006 Games (Live starting at 8:00 p.m., NBC).

—Figure skating: Gold medal contender Nathan Chen will compete in the men's figure skating short program, and he's only 18-years-old (Live starting at 8 p.m., NBCSN and NBC).

—Men’s hockey: Team USA, who hasn't won gold since the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" team, will face Slovakia in Group B action (Live starting at 10:00 p.m., CNBC).

Friday, Feb. 16

—Freestyle skiing: In the women’s slopestyle, Devin Logan and Maggie Voisin have potential to medal. Logan earned silver in the Sochi Games, but Voisin (who was 15 at the time) didn't compete as she suffered an injury while training (2:00 a.m., NBC).

—Speed skating: Women will compete in the 5000m (10:45 a.m., NBCSN / 3 p.m. NBC).

—Cross-country skiing: Coverage of the men's 15km free will take place (3 p.m., NBC).

—Freestyle skiing: Team USA will be in contention for a pair of medals with reigning world champion Ashley Caldwell and Kiley McKinnon in the women's aerials (8 p.m., NBC).

—Figure skating: Nathan Chen will perform in the men's free skate and will be up against an experienced field, including defending champion Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan (Live starting at 8:00 p.m., NBCSN and NBC).

—Alpine skiing: As long as Lindsey Vonn can find a way to stay healthy and injury-free, the 33-year-old will be a big threat in the women's super-G. If she does make the podium, she could become the oldest female to medal in alpine skiing history (Live starting at 8:00 p.m., NBC).

Saturday, Feb. 17

—Men’s hockey: The U.S. will play against Russia in the final Group B game of the men's hockey preliminary round (Live starting at 7:10 a.m., NBCSN).

—Cross-country skiing: Team USA has a shot at making history as it competes in the women’s 4x5km relay with hopes of bringing home America's first Olympic medal in the sport (10:30 a.m., NBCSN / 3 p.m. NBC).

—Biathlon: Last year, Susan Dunklee became the first American to podium at the world championships, and she's looking to do the same in Pyeongchang as she will be one to watch in the women’s 12.5km mass start (11:30 a.m., NBCSN / 3 p.m. NBC).

—Short track speed skating: Coverage of women’s 1500m final and men’s 1000m final will take place (12:30 p.m., NBCSN / 8 p.m. NBC).

—Skeleton: Women set to compete (1:30 p.m., NBCSN / 8 p.m. NBC).

—Ski jumping: Men will compete in the large hill individual (2:30 p.m., NBCSN / 8:00 p.m., NBC).

—Freestyle skiing: In the men’s slopestyle, Gus Kenworthy and Nick Goepper will be contenders for an Olympic medal. Kenworthy earned silver in Sochi while Goepper received bronze (11:30 p.m., NBC).

—Alpine skiing: Ted Ligety will compete in his best event — men’s giant slalom — and looks to bring home his third Olympic gold medal (Live starting at 11:30 p.m., NBC).

Sunday, Feb. 18 

—Freestyle skiing: Team USA's Jon Lillis, who won the 2017 World Championships, and Mac Bohonnon are one's to watch in the men's aerial finals (10:15 a.m., NBCSN / 3 p.m. NBC).

—Speed skating: Women will compete in the 500m (11:15 a.m., NBCSN / 7 p.m. NBC).

—Biathlon: Men will compete in the 15km mass start (12:00 p.m., NBCSN / 3 p.m. NBC).

—Cross-country skiing: Men will participate in the relay (1:00 p.m., NBCSN / 7 p.m., NBC). 

—Figure skating: In the ice dance short program, siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani represent one of three U.S. duos, and they are big contenders to podium (Live starting at 8 p.m., NBC).

—Women’s hockey: The women will compete in the semifinal with teams to be determined. The winner of the semifinal will determine one of the gold-medal finalists, and Team USA has a good shot at making it this far (Live starting at 11:10 p.m., NBCSN).

Monday, Feb. 19 

—Women’s hockey: The women will compete in the semifinal with teams to be determined. The winner of the semifinal will determine one of the gold-medal finalists, and Team USA has a good shot at making it into the semifinal (Live starting at 7:10 a.m., Live on NBCSN).

—Ski jumping: Men will compete in the team large hill (9:30 a.m., NBCSN / 3 p.m., NBC).

—Speed skating: Men will compete in the 500m (11 a.m., NBCSN).

—Bobsled: Coverage of the two-man event will take place (11 a.m., NBCSN / 8 p.m. NBC).

—Figure skating: The ice dancing competition will come to an end with siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani expected to medal. However, team USA will face tough competition against Canada's Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir as well as Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron of France (Live starting at 8 p.m., NBCSN / NBC).

—Freestyle skiing: In the women's halfpipe, defending Olympic champion Maddie Bowan is expected to lead Team USA (Live starting at 8 p.m., NBC).

Tuesday, Feb. 20 

—Biathlon: Women will compete in the 2x6km while men will participate in the 2x7.5km (10:30 a.m., NBCSN / 3 p.m., NBC).

—Nordic combined: Men will compete in the individual large hill and 10km (9:30 a.m., NBCSN / 3 p.m., NBC).

—Short track speed skating: Coverage of the women’s 3000m relay will take place (12:45 p.m., NBCSN).

—Alpine skiing: Lindsey Vonn won a gold medal in the women’s downhill eight years ago in Vancouver, and she's looking to do the same in Pyeongchang. At 33-years-old, a medal performance would make her the oldest woman in alpine skiing history to make the podium at the Olympics (Live starting at 8:00 p.m., NBC).

—Figure skating: The women’s short program continues, and Bradie Tennell (who just won at the 2018 U.S. Championships), Mirai Nagasu (who competed in the 2010 Olympics) and Karen Chen (who placed fourth at last year's world championships) will represent Team USA as contenders for a gold (Live starting at 8 p.m., NBC / NBCSN).

Wednesday, Feb. 21

—Freestyle skiing: Men will compete in ski cross seeding (1:05 a.m., NBC).

—Hockey: Women hockey teams will compete in the bronze medal final and teams are to be determined (Live starting at 2:30 a.m., USA).

—Cross-country skiing: Men and women will compete in team sprints. The women, led by Jessie Diggins, have a shot at making history giving USA its first medal of the sport if they make it to the podium (10:45 a.m., NBCSN).

—Speed skating: Coverage of men and women competing in the team pursuit will take place (10:45 a.m., NBCSN / 3 p.m. NBC).

—Bobsled: In the women's final runs event, Elana Meyers Taylor is a contender for an Olympic gold along with teammate Jamie Greubel Poser. However, Team USA will have to lookout for Canada's two-time defending Olympic gold medalist Kaillie Humphries (9:30 a.m., NBCSN / 8 p.m., NBC).

—Freestyle skiing: The men compete in the halfpipe final where defending Olympic champion David Wise is expected to lead the U.S. (Live starting at 8 p.m., NBC). 

—Alpine skiing: Men will compete in the slalom during primetime with gold medal coverage (Live starting at 11:35 p.m., NBC).

—Hockey: Women’s gold medal game (Live starting at 10:45 p.m., NBCSN)

Thursday, Feb. 22

—Freestyle skiing: Women compete in ski cross (12:30 a.m., NBC).

—Alpine skiing: The women’s alpine super combined event could shape up to be a duel between veteran Lindsey Vonn and teammate Mikaela Shiffrin. The event begins with a downhill run (Live starting at 12:30 a.m., NBC).

—Nordic combined: Men’s team competition will take place (Live starting at 5:20 a.m., NBCSN / 3 p.m. NBC).

—Biathlon: Coverage includes the women’s 4x6km relay (Live starting at 5:20 a.m., NBCSN / 3 p.m. NBC).

—Short track speed skating: Finals include men's 500m, women’s 1000m, men’s 5000m relay. Team USA's relay team, led by J.R. Celski, has potential to medal (7:45 a.m., NBCSN / 8 p.m., NBCSN).

—Figure skating: Women’s free skate competition wraps up with Bradie Tennell (2018 national champion), Mirai Nagasu (2010 Olympian), and Karen Chen (2017 national champion) expected to lead the Americans. They will face tough competition against Russia's Yevgena Medvedeva and Alina Zagitova who are favored (Live starting at 8 p.m., NBCSN / NBC).

—Snowboarding: The Peyongchang Games marks the first time women’s big air is featured in the Olympics, and it could prove to be an advantage to the United States. Julia Marino and Hailey Langland will be contenders for Team USA (Live starting at 8 p.m., NBC).

Friday, Feb. 23

—Hockey: Two men’s semifinal games will take place — teams are to be determined (Live starting at 2:15 a.m., NBCSN / Live starting at 6:30 a.m., NBCSN).

—Speed skating: Two-time Olympic champion Shani Davis and Joey Mantia will compete in the men’s 1000m and are expected to be a threat, although the Dutch are dominant in this event as well (Live starting at 5:00 a.m., NBCSN / Live starting at 8 p.m. NBC).

—Curling: Coverage of men’s bronze medal game will take place (9:30 a.m., NBCSN).

—Biathlon: Men will compete in the 4x7.5km relay (3:00 p.m., NBC / 8:00 p.m., NBCSN).

—Snowboarding: Men compete in the inaugural big air event (8:00 p.m., NBC).

—Alpine skiing: Alpine's team event will make it's Olympic debut in Pyeongchang where nations compete in a bracket-style format. The event features head-to-head slalom races with two men and two women per round (Live starting at 8:00 p.m., NBC).

—Snowboarding: Men and women will compete in the parallel giant slalom (11:35 p.m., NBC).

Saturday, Feb. 24 

—Curling: The gold medal will be decided for the men (3:00 a.m., NBCSN).

—Hockey: Men will compete in the bronze medal game with teams to be determined (Live starting at 6:30 a.m., NBCSN).

—Curling: Women will compete in the bronze medal game (11:00 a.m., NBCSN).

—Cross-country skiing: The men’s 50km mass start is a rigorous event in the Winter Olympic events as it's five miles longer than a marathon (3 p.m., NBCSN).

—Curling: The gold medal will be decided for the women (Live starting at 7:05 p.m., NBCSN).

—Figure skating: Coverage of the Gala exhibition will take place (Live starting at 8:00 p.m., NBC),

—Hockey: Men's hockey teams will compete in the gold medal game. The U.S. hasn't won the title since the 1980's while Canada enters the Games as a favorite after winning the past two Olympic golds (Live starting at 10:30 p.m., NBCSN).

Sunday, Feb. 25 

—Cross-country skiing: The women’s 30km mass start will be the last cross-country skiing event in Pyeongchang (2:00 a.m., NBCSN / 3 p.m. NBC).

By Michael McCarthy

Sports TV viewers might as well keep their DVR's set to NBC Sports this month as the network pivots from Sunday's telecast of Super Bowl 52 to coverage of the 2018 Winter Olympics from Pyeongchang, South Korea.

This year's Games will take place against the backdrop of military tension between South Korea and North Korea. With the demilitarized zone (DMZ) a scant 50 miles away, some visitors and sponsors have been scared away from Pyeongchang, a sleepy resort area in the Taebaek Mountains about 100 miles east of the South Korean capital of Seoul.

But the worrying political situation is not stopping NBC, which paid $4.38 billion for U.S. media rights to the 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020 Olympic Games. The Peacock network will offer over 2,400 hours of coverage across its main broadcast channel and sister NBCUniversal cable networks. Every event will be streamed live — and free — for viewers.

Viewers can watch figure skating and freestyle skiing in prime time on NBC Thursday night (8 p.m. ET). Coverage of Opening Ceremonies begin Friday night with Mike Tirico and Katie Couric behind the microphone for NBC (8 p.m. ET). For the first time, NBCUniversal will live-stream Opening Ceremonies, which will be Friday morning in the U.S. for early bird viewers (6 a.m. ET). 

Here's your viewing guide to the XXIII Olympic Winter Games.

Who's In for NBC?

Tirico will make his debut as NBC’s primetime Olympic host, succeeding Bob Costas. It will be the biggest global sports stage yet for Tirico, who jumped to NBC in 2016 from ESPN. He’ll be joined by Couric, the popular “Today” show veteran. Costas served as NBC’s primetime host for a record 11 games, starting with the 1992 Olympics. 

Who’s Out for NBC?

The 65-year old Costas is passing the torch to the 51-year old Tirico. Also out is Matt Lauer, the longtime “Today” show anchor who was fired after a sexual misconduct scandal. Lauer is reportedly writing a tell-all book about the “boys club” atmosphere at “Today.”

How Do I Watch?

The Winter Games will be broadcast on the NBC broadcast network, NBCSN cable channel and sister NBC Universal cable networks such as USA, CNBC and the Olympic Channel. All events will also be live-streamed at NBCOlympics.com and on the NBC Sports app. Here's NBC's handy  day-by-day TV listings  and  live streaming schedule .

What's the time difference between U.S. and South Korea?

South Korea is 14 hours ahead of the U.S. Eastern Time Zone. That will present a tricky problem for NBC. Still, the biggest events will be in or around prime time TV, when the maximum number of viewers are watching. The women's figure skating finale, always one of the highest-rated events, should end around midnight ET, or 9 p.m. PT, on on Feb. 23,  according to the New York Times .

When Can I Watch?

Coverage actually starts Wednesday, Feb. 7, at 11 p.m. ET on NBCSN with mixed double curling. Live primetime coverage begins Thursday, Feb. 8, at 8 p.m. ET. NBC will present live coverage of the Opening Ceremony Friday night from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET, then continue non-stop through Closing Ceremonies on Sunday, Feb. 25.  

Other key lineup changes for NBC?

After coming on strong the last Winter Olympics, Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir will succeed Scott Hamilton and Sandra Bezic as lead analysts for figure skating. The duo is young and funny, with great chemistry. All told, NBC will use 89 commentators.

"We’ve been waiting to sit in that seat for quite a while. We’re excited to see good skating," said Lipinski.

Via Getty Images

Ice dancers Chris Knierim and Alexa Scimeca Knierim of the U.S. train at Gangneung Ice Arena on Feb. 8.Mogul Skier Walter Wallberg of Sweden trains at Phoenix Park.U.S. snowboarder Chase Josey speaks to the press in Pyeongchang.France's Thomas Mermillod-Blondin takes part in the Downhill training.U.S. snowboarder Chase Josey speaks to the press in Pyeongchang.

Winter sports do not generally attract the same kind of crowds and followings as more traditional pursuits, which makes becoming a recognizable star much more difficult than in the domain of, say, football.

So it is a great credit to the likes of Shaun White and Lindsey Vonn that you have almost certainly heard of them. 

Snowboarder White's profile is such that he starred in a Super Bowl halftime commercial, showing off the talent that has earned him two Olympic golds and may see him add another in the half-pipe this year.

He shares in common with American compatriot Vonn a potted history of various injury woes, but that is par for the course in such sports.

Vonn warmed up for Pyeongchang with victory in the World Cup downhill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen to sound a warning to her rivals.

The likes of Marcel Hirscher and Mikaela Shiffrin also will be gracing the slopes with a bit of star quality, which is precisely what Poland's Kamil Stoch brings to the ski jump.

He won two golds at Sochi 2014, taking the top spot on the podium in the normal hill and large hill.

On the speed skating track, keep your eyes peeled for Great Britain's main medal hope Elise Christie, while the ice hockey rink will showcase a moment of history when a unified Korean women's team faces Switzerland.

It should not have escaped your notice that – in echoes of the famous feat of their male counterparts in reaching the Calgary 1988 Games – Jamaica's women's bobsleigh team has qualified this time around.

Finally, with 242 athletes (135 men,107 women) competing in for the United States, we've narrowed down 10 athletes you're going to want to keep a close eye on. 

Mikaela Shiffrin

Sport: Alpine Skiing 
Age: 22 

What you need to know: With one Olympic gold already behind her from the Sochi Games, Mikaela Shiffrin is one athlete you're going to want to follow closely. She became the youngest ever to win an Olympic gold medal in the slalom at the age of 18, and her name is in conversations as the "best slalom skier in the world." Both this season and last, Shiffrin ranks No. 1 in the world and is in serious contention to add more medals to her collection.

“If I leave any legacy behind, it’s just the idea, just the theory that you admit to your ambitions and you don’t let people tell you you’re wrong to have those ambitions," Shiffrin said, per USA Today. “As long as you’re willing to work toward them — you can’t just expect it’s going to be given to you just because you had the dream. But if you’re willing to work toward them, then you have to admit to them first. And for a lot of athletes, that in and of itself is the difference between making it to their goals and not.”

Nathan Chen

Sport: Figure Skating
Age: 18

What you need to know: There's a ton of hype around Nathan Chen heading into the Olympics, and it only makes sense after his record-setting year. Just a month ago, he created a piece of history becoming the first male figure skater to land five quadruple jumps in one performance. He's already a two-time national champion and will make his Olympic debut in Pyeongchang.

“It was amazing,” Chen said of landing five quads, via TeamUSA.org. “That’s something I’ve been training for, something that I’ve been working towards. I didn’t want to put it out there just yet ‘cause it’s been not so consistent in practice, but it’s something that I’m really proud about.”

Shaun White

Sport: Snowboarding
Age: 31

What you need to know: Shaun White will compete in his fourth Olympics and emerges as a huge contender to give Team USA a medal in the halfpipe. He won his first Olympic gold in 2006 at Turin and then again at Vancouver in 2010. He finished fourth in Sochi at the last Winter Games, but is a favorite heading into Pyeongchang. Another fun fact: he was the first athlete to compete and medal in both the Summer and Winter X Games. 

White is resilient as heading into the Olympics as he's only a few months removed from a crash that left him with 62 stitches in his face. 

“The biggest improvement was getting right with myself, getting right with my mind-set and being inspired again, being excited being a snowboarder and just go to the mountain and take runs for fun, get back to those beginning reasons of why I did the sport in the first place,” White said of the crash (via USA Today).

Lindsey Vonn

Sport: Alpine Skiing 
Age: 33

What you need to know: As a veteran in the sport, Lindsey Vonn has been the face of alpine skiing for quite some time now. She missed the 2014 Olympics with injuries keeping her from qualifying, but she's back this year and she is sure to be a threat, especially in the super-G. Vonn is one of the most decorated skiers and is tied with Julia Mancuso for the most global championship medals won by an American with nine.

"Eight years has been a very long time. Obviously, I was very ... disappointed and devastated and frustrated that I missed Sochi. I've been waiting for this for a long time. I'm ready," Vonn said, per ABC News. "I love going fast. That's why I haven't stopped skiing. I'm 33. I've been injured quite a few times, but my passion for the sport has never changed since I started racing when I was 8 years old.

Jordan Greenway

Sport: Men's Hockey
Age: 20 

What you need to know: The story behind Jordan Greenway and the piece of history he already created is more than enough reason to follow-him. Greenway became the first African-American selected for a USA Hockey team in the Olympics, which breaks a barrier nearly a century old. Greenway could have signed with the Wild this offseason, but instead he chose to return to Boston University, with the potential of playing for Team USA.

“I’ve been able to accomplish a lot of good things and just allowing a lot of African-American kids who are younger than me who see kind of what I’m doing, I hope that can be an inspiration for them,” Greenway told Sporting News. “Go out and do something different against the typical stereotypes that most African-Americans play basketball, or whatever the case is.”

Ted Ligety

Sport: Alpine Skiing
Age: 33

What you need to know: Known as one of the best giant slalom racers in the history of skiing, two-time gold medalist Ted Ligety shocked the world by becoming the youngest American male to win an Olympic gold medal in alpine skiing. In 2013, he became the first man in 45 years to win three events at the World Championships. Ligety enters his fourth Olympics as a favorite to win the men’s giant slalom, which is his best event. 

"It's pretty crazy to think at this day and age that I have done what I have done," Ted Ligety told Omnisport about his success. "But you know since I'm still in the midst of my career I try not to like think about those things. You know what I've done so far, I just try to move on to the next thing and I kinda can reflect back more on that when I'm done. But right now it's all about trying to get better and move onto the next race."

Chloe Kim

Sport: Snowboarding
Age: 17

What you need to know: Chloe Kim will make her Olympic debut in her family's homeland and enters the Games as one of the youngest competitors in the field. She was too young to participate in Sochi as she was only 13 years old at the time, but it's likely she would have been a medal contender if she participated. Kim could become one of the youngest breakout stars in Pyeongchang.

"She definitely reminds me of myself," Shaun White said about Kim, per Sports Illustrated. "But it's not about one big trick, it's about the way she connects the whole run. She does what I strived for: big air at the top, gnarly tricks in the middle, finish it great. I love watching her ride."

Shani Davis

Sport: Long Track Speedskating
Age: 35 

What you need to know: Entering his fifth Olympics, Shani Davis will be one of the most experienced skaters on the ice. In 2006, he became the first African-American to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics in an individual event. He already has two golds in the 1,000 meters and will look to add to his collection in Pyeongchang.

“I’ve been making Olympic teams since I was 18, 19 years old,” Davis said, per the Chicago Tribune. “I’m just honored I can still be strong enough at this day and age with all the things going on with me and my skating — the ups and downs — just being able to keep a solid head and staying motivated and believing in myself and not being easily discouraged or easily defeated or giving up. I’m really proud of myself.”

Adam Rippon

Sport:  Figure Skating
Age:  28

What you need to know: Adam Rippon's journey to the 2018 Pyeongchang Games hasn't been an easy one. As a newcomer to the Olympic stage, Rippon bounced back after breaking his foot last year. He just barely missed the 2010 Olympics as he was named an alternate, but he's expected to be a threat to the rest of the competitors. 

“I’m really grateful that the selection committee looked at my body of work over the last two seasons,” Rippon said, according to the Washington Post. “… I feel that my experience will help me have my best performances at the Olympic Games, and it feels amazing to say that.”

Erin Jackson

Sport: Long Track Speedskating
Age: 25 

What you need to know: She may not be known as a gold medal contender, but Erin Jackson will certainly be an American who could emerge as a big contributor to Team USA. She has only been competing on the ice for four months, but she surprised the whole speedskating world when she qualified at trials. Jackson joins Davis in leaving a mark on the sport as she became the first African-American woman ever to make Olympic speedskating team for the United States. 

“I really wasn’t expecting any of this, just coming in as a newbie, just trying to do the best I can,” Jackson said after qualifying, via Sports Illustrated. “I still don’t even know.”

By Jack Davies

Pita Taufatofua will need to wrap up a bit warmer if he is to make as big an impact at the 2018 Winter Olympics as he did in the 2016 Summer Games.

Former Taekwondo player Taufatofua achieved fleeting global fame two years ago when, as his country's flagbearer, he entered the stadium in traditional dress, his bare torso caked in coconut oil.

Pictures of Taufatofua were shared widely on social media, but he has since switched sports to cross-country skiing with the aim of reaching Olympic standard in a single year.

Taufatofua trained with roller skis due to the lack of snow in Tonga and failed in seven previous attempts to reach the qualifying requirements, succeeding only with his final attempt in Iceland on Saturday.

He will be Tonga's first skier at the Winter Olympics.

"After Rio I decided to find the hardest sport possible because I needed a new challenge and the hardest sport possible was cross-country skiing," Taufatofua told the Olympic Channel.

"You've got to put your body through something really challenging. The goal was to do it in one year - and we did it in one year!"

By Nicholas McGee

In the long history of the Winter Olympics, there has never been a male skeleton athlete from Africa. That will change on Feb. 15 when Akwasi Frimpong of Ghana will line up to compete in the heats of the men's skeleton at the 2018 Games. 

For Frimpong it is the end of a remarkable journey and fulfilment of a 15-year ambition to compete at an Olympic Games.

That dream looked like it was being taken away from him when Frimpong suffered an Achilles injury, robbing him of the opportunity to represent the Netherlands — where he relocated to at the age of eight — in the 4x100 metres relay at the 2012 London Games.

But, having been persuaded to give sliding sports, in which his natural sprinting ability gives him an advantage at the start, a go by Dutch bobsled coach Nicola Minichiello, Frimpong will realize his goal in South Korea, and is hoping to be a trendsetter in African sport.

"I'm just excited to go out there and show the world what Ghana is all about," Frimpong told Omnisport. "My goal is to hope that more Africans and more from Ghana will join but I'm glad that I can pave the way for people in my country to be ambassadors for winter sport in Ghana."

Excited to announce that I will be the flag bearer for my country Ghana🇬🇭 on feb.9th during the 2018 #Olympic ceremony. #ghanaskeleton🇬🇭 pic.twitter.com/97icrLcsDt

— Akwasi Frimpong (@FrimpongAkwasi) February 6, 2018

The road has been far from easy, in addition to dealing with injury and having to sacrifice time with his family, Frimpong has had to attract his own sponsors and raise his own funds to be able to prepare and train at Utah Valley University, doing so by some unusual means.

"I went out there and did the best that I can, looked for sponsors, [I] was selling vacuums door to door, sacrificed to be what I am today and to show that it is possible, you just have to work really hard," Frimpong said.

"I'm kind of a guinea pig at the same time to show to sponsors, to show Ghana, the sports minister and to the Olympic committee how serious I am and that I'm able to inspire a team of people for the 2022 Olympics.

"I've been dreaming of the Olympics for 15 years. I've only being doing the sliding sports, 2013 bobsled and 2016 skeleton, so only a year and a half, almost two years in skeleton, but the goal itself started a long time ago when I was 17 years old. I sacrificed time with my family, injuries again being away from my family, that was all really tough and I definitely think it was all worth it.

"Being at the opening ceremony, waving the flag of my country, it will definitely have a flashback to all the sacrifices I have made, definitely the journey I have been through and the help of other people who have supported me to be where I am today."

Having been unable to attend opportunities for prior experience of the Pyeongchang track and with only two years in the sport under his belt, Frimpong accepts he is some way behind the more seasoned sliders in terms of preparation.

But he has already set his sights on the 2022 Games in Beijing, where he believes he could compete for a spot on the podium.

"After working hard for 15 years to reach my goal, I've already generated a little bit of success on my own," he added. "The Olympic Games is not always just about winning, it's also about conquering. I've fought for my goals and dreams and I'm just going there and I'm competitive, I want to push as far as I can and I want to slide the best that I can.

"To me just going out there and getting the experience is already a big thing. Usain Bolt did not make the Olympic finals in his first Olympics, just getting the experience and learning from the best in the world is a really huge thing for me. Getting to the Games and making history for my country is a really huge thing.

"I definitely think with my progress and how determined I am, anything is possible. When I started the Bobsled and Skeleton Federation Ghana in 2016 my whole goal was to go to the 2022 Olympics and win a medal for Ghana.

"Africa has never won a winter medal before and Ghana has never won a gold medal in summer or winter Olympics. That has always been my goal to win a medal, so I'm still going for that and that's my biggest goal. 2018 is to go out there and break barriers, 2018 is to go out there and make history for Ghana."

Beyond his own individual targets, Frimpong's ambition is to inspire children in a country where football is the dominant power to try winter sports.

"I always make the example that not everybody can be Ronaldo, the best soccer player in the world, not everybody can be Usain Bolt when it comes to running," he explained. "I think that a lot of kids in Ghana have a lot of various talents, it will be great to teach them to come out of their comfort zone and find something that they are really good in and use their talent in different areas, including winter sports.

"Every three months I pay out of my own pocket and I help the local board members in Ghana organise bobsled and skeleton clinics. I've built wooden sleds in Ghana [so] kids in Ghana can learn how to push a sled, also learn the running drills that come with it, jumping, the weightlifting, all the different things that come with becoming a good pusher as a starter and then the ice part is something that later on we have to get the right financing to take them to Europe and North America to learn that.

"My Grandma who lives in Ghana, when I was eight years old and I was leaving Ghana for the Netherlands, she sat me on her lap and said 'Akwasi, what you need for success is already in you, it is a matter of believing in yourself, having the will to work hard and never give up.'

"I truly believe that we have tough times, but we all have dreams, and people in Ghana, kids in Ghana should come out of their comfort zone and dare to dream. I truly believe they have so much talent, as long as they believe in themselves, as long as they work hard, stay persistent and obviously surround themselves with like-minded people and get the support around them, that the sky's the limit."

By Russell Greaves

Truth be told, there is something for everyone at a Winter Games, but certain events definitely have a tendency to steal the limelight.

For the locals, the short-track speed skating will be the greatest attraction – it is a huge deal in South Korea and they are the only nation to have won a gold medal at every Games in which the event has been featured.

One thing that will be returning after an 86-year absence is bound to bring drama, with the mass-start discipline making an appearance, meaning 24 athletes will compete for gold in the final.

Alpine skiing is of course a staple and, with the speed of downhill, the thrills of the super-G and the skills of giant slalom, there will be something to entertain you on any of the 16 days of scheduled action on the slopes.

And that does not even take into account the snowboarding, which has undoubtedly helped to bring a new generation of athletes and fans to winter sports.

Along with the slopestyle, which pits riders' wits on a course featuring rails, jumps and other obstacles, and the more self-explanatory half-pipe, new for this year is big air.

That is every bit is brilliant as it sounds, with competitors launching themselves down a hill, up a huge ramp and into the air before performing various tricks.

If ice is more your thing, the luge, bobsleigh and skeleton should do the trick – they are all fast, furious and frankly the preserve of some very brave women and men, bettered only perhaps by those who opt for ski jumping as a career.

Looking for something a little more sedate, but no less exciting? Curling will appeal and fresh for 2018 is the mixed doubles. This sport rewards pinpoint accuracy, tactical nous and expert sweeping. Just watch it.

The 2018 Winter Olympics open with one of the Games' oldest and most popular sports: Figure skating.

The 2018 United States squad is 14 members strong, with just five returning Olympians and nine Olympic rookies, including gold-medal favorite Nathan Chen. Of the five returnees, none have medalled in their previous trips to the Games.

Here's everything you need to know about figure skating in the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Watch the Winter Olympics live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial)

How to watch figure skating at the 2018 Winter Olympics

One of the most popular events at the Winter Games, figure skating will be shown live in primetime on NBC on 12 of the 18 nights. They can also be streamed live online at NBCSports.com and fuboTV (7-day free trial).

What are the events?

Men's and women's singles —  The individual events are comprised of the short program and the free skate. Of 30 competitors in the men's and women's short program, 24 advance to the free skate. The scores of both events are then combined to determine the overall winner.

Pairs —  The pairs event consists of the short program and free skate as well, with 16 of the 20 pairs advancing to the free skate. The scores of both events are then combined to determine the overall winner

Ice Dance —  The ice dance includes the short dance and free dance. After 20 out of 24 couples advance to the free dance, the scores of both events are combined to determine the overall winner.

Team event —  The best skaters from each country compete in the team event. Two portions of singles, pairs and ice dancing are each contested, and the highest ranked country after each short program advances to the free skate portion. 

Location and schedule of events

All Olympic figure skating events take place at the Gangneung Ice Arena, part of the Gangneung Olympic Park. Medals will be awarded at events in italics.

(All times Eastern.)

Feb. 8

Team men’s short program, 8 p.m.
Team pairs short program, 9:45 p.m.

Feb. 10

Team short dance, 8 p.m.
Team women's short program, 9:45 p.m.
Team pairs free skate, 11:40 p.m.

Feb. 11

Team men’s free skate, 8 p.m.
Team women's free skate, 9:10 p.m.
Team free dance, 10:20 p.m.

Feb. 13

Pairs short program, 8 p.m.

Feb. 14

Pairs free skate, 8:30 p.m.    

Feb. 15

Men's short program, 8 p.m.

Feb. 16

Men's free skate, 8 p.m.

Feb. 18

Ice dance short program, 8 p.m.

Feb. 19

Ice dance free skate, 8 p.m.

Feb. 20

Women's short program, 8 p.m.

Feb. 22

Women's free skate, 8 p.m.

2018 U.S. Olympic figure skating team

Men's singles
Nathan Chen, Adam Rippon, Vincent Zhou

Women's singles
Bradie Tennell, Mirai Nagasu, Karen Chen

Pairs
Alexa and Chris Knierim

Ice Dance
Maia and Alex Shibutani
Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue
Madison Chock and Evan Bates

U.S. figure skating in past Olympics

Team USA fared well in the most recent Winter Olympics in 2014, securing the bronze medal in team events along with a gold medal in ice dancing from partners Meryl Davis and Charlie White. Since 1908, the U.S. has totaled 15 gold medals, 16 silver medals and 17 bronze medals in figure skating.

Snowboarding begins on Friday, Feb. 9. This will be the sixth Winter Olympic games that feature the sport, as snowboarding made its Olympic debut in 1998.

The full schedule of snowboarding events features five men’s and five women’s events over a two-week span, concluding Friday, Feb. 23. The events are Slopestyle, Halfpipe, Snowboard Cross, Big Air and Parallel Giant Slalom.

Winter Olympics 2018: Snowboarding rosters

Team USA men's roster

Two-time gold medalist Shaun White qualified for his fourth Olympic Halfpipe competition with a perfect score in the men’s final of the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Aspen Snowmass on Jan. 13. White will be joined on the USA Men’s Snowboarding team by Jake Pates, Chris Corning, Ben Ferguson as well as Red Gerard, who is attempting to medal at 17 years old.

Team USA women's roster

Gold medalists Jamie Anderson (2014, Slopestyle) and Kelly Clark (2002, Halfpipe) along with first-time Olympians Jules Marino and Chloe Kim are four female snowboarders to watch. Kim made headlines in 2014 by posting scores in the Halfpipe high enough to qualify for the Sochi Olympic Games but could not compete due to being too young at 13. Now 17, Kim is primed to begin a potentially historic Olympic career in Pyeongchang.

MORE: Watch out for Jules Marino in the Winter Games

How to watch Olympic snowboarding live

Here is all you need to know in order to follow Snowboarding at the 2018 Olympic Games, including a schedule for each event and their respective qualified U.S. athletes of note.

Most events will be broadcast on NBC and NBC Sports, with additional coverage coming on CNBC and the USA Network. Events can also be streamed on NBCSports.com, NBCOlympics.com as well as the NBC Sports app. You can also stream the Winter Olympics live on FuboTV and get a seven-day free trial. 

Winter Olympics 2018: Snowboarding events schedule

Here is the full schedule of events for snowboarding at the Winter Olympics. All times Eastern. 

A game of skill, delicacy and accuracy.

Two teams of four go head-to-head, taking it in turns to throw a granite rock (sometimes referred to as a stone) down an ice rink, with the object being to land the rock nearest the scoring area.

Sweeping is crucial in curling, with the action reducing friction and helping the rock to move straighter.

Which teams are competing

Eight nations are competing in the mixed doubles tournament, while 10 will compete in the men's and women's team events.

Mixed Doubles: Canada, China, Finland, Korea, Norway, Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR), Switzerland and the United States.

Men's: Canada, Denmark, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Korea, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States

Women's: Canada, China, Denmark, Great Britain, Japan, Korea, OAR, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States

How to watch curling at the 2018 Winter Olympics

NBC provides both live and taped coverage of the Winter Olympics in the United States.

Given the sheer volume of curling at the 2018 Games, the sport is well positioned to capture viewing audiences across all hours of the day. There's a 14-hour difference between South Korea and the U.S. East Coast, but staggered competition means some matches will be carried live, possibly as part of NBC's main primetime block. That includes the women's gold medal game Feb. 24.

Curling results from the 2014 Winter Olympics

Team Canada completed a clean sweep at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, winning gold in both the men's and women's tournament.

Men's: Gold: Canada, Silver: Great Britain, Bronze: Sweden. 

Women's: Gold: Canada, Silver: Sweden, Bronze: Great Britain.

U.S. curling Olympic medal history

If Team USA medals in curling, it will be the second time in Olympic history. The American men claimed curling bronze in Turin in 2006.

Americans Matt and Becca Hamilton are two of three Olympic curlers who qualified in both the new mixed doubles discipline and the traditional, single-gender curling event, and are expected to give the U.S. its best chance to medal in 2018. The siblings from McFarland, Wisc., could be on the ice for as many as 50 hours at Pyeongchang.

Location and schedule of events

All Olympic curling matches will take place at the Gangneung Curling Centre, part of the Gangneung Olympic Park. The larger venue will also host figure skating, ice hockey and speed skating.

Short track speed skating is popular due to entertaining races involving four to six competitors, over distances ranging between 500m and 5000m. 

There are usually crashes galore due to the tight nature of the track and the high speeds – the most infamous of which saw Australia's Steven Bradbury win gold in the 1000m in 2002 after all his opponents collided in a huge pile up.

Speed skating differs to the shorter format, with speed and technique crucial for competitors who race in separate lanes in a bid to beat the clock.

Figure skating showcases grace on the ice during routines similar to gymnastics, with competitors scored on their technical moves by a panel of judges.

Some of the biggest names in winter sports will be on show in alpine skiing, with American Olympic champions Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin involved, as well as Austrian star Marcel Hirscher.

With five disciplines in total, downhill and super G will take the fancy of speed demons, while for the more technical aficionados among you, the slalom and giant slalom are ones to watch.

Fans of tricks and flicks will be happy to know that big air has been added to the snowboarding and freestyle skiing schedules, whereby competitors show off their best moves after launching off a huge ramp. Slopestyle and half-pipe also earn points by impressing judges, while parallel giant slalom in snowboard is a flat race.

Kamil Stoch will look to add to the two ski jumping gold medals he won in Sochi. Ski jumping is among the more dangerous disciplines to negotiate, with athletes reaching speeds of 60 miles per hour and jumping the length of a football pitch. Distance is the main criteria for success, but style is also a factor.

Cross-country will test competitors' stamina and endurance as opposed to pure speed, while Nordic combined shows off both skiing and ski jumping skills.

Arguably among the more popular sports, due perhaps in part to the 1994 cult film 'Cool Runnings', which followed the efforts of Jamaica's first bobsleigh representatives. 

Teams of four negotiate their way down a track ranging between 1200m and 1300m long at startling speeds that can reach up to 90mph, while steering around 14 to 22 curves.

Skeleton is another sliding discipline in the bobsleigh category, with the key difference that rather than two or four athlete teams, one person rides a small sled head first down the track.

Not one for the faint of heart, biathlon is among the more physically demanding sports on the Winter Olympics schedule.

Combining long-distance skiing and shooting, biathletes shoot at targets 50 metres away with a rifle and events vary in distance between six and 20 kilometres.

Among the athletes to keep an eye on are two-time Olympic gold medallist Martin Fourcade and three-time world champion Johannes Thingnes Bo, while Darya Domracheva, Anastasiya Kuzmina and Laura Dahlmeier will fancy their chances of picking up medals in the women's disciplines.

Bravery, agility and balance are crucial to success in luge.

As opposed to skeleton, athletes throw themselves feet first down a track at 80mph speeds with no brakes and little protection from the consequences of errors.

As well as singles, there is a pairs event whereby the larger competitor lies on top.

In a real blow to the hopes of United States and Canada, NHL players will not be involved at this year's Winter Olympics after the IOC decided it would no longer cover the cost of their insurance.

Ice hockey comprises two teams of six playing out three 20-minute periods – with overtime and shootouts used in the event of a tie.

The fast pace, exciting moves and the frequent brawling makes ice hockey one of the most popular sports globally, as well at the Games, and Sweden – having won the 2017 IIHF World Championship – will have high hopes in the men's, while USA were victors in the women's.

By Mike Murphy

There is nothing quite like the rivalry between USA and Canada in women’s hockey. For more than 20 years, their struggle against one another has inspired us and demanded our attention. Today the women’s game is more popular than ever before and it will take center stage in Pyeongchang, South Korea. But only one team leaves with gold. 

A lot has happened since the first IIHF sanctioned women’s world championship in 1990. That year, Canada proved its superiority on the ice with a 5-2 win over the United States in the gold-medal game. What followed was a near decade-long reign as the uncontested best team in the world of women's hockey.

That is, of course, until USA shocked the world and won the first ever women's hockey Olympic gold in 1998. 

MORE:  Nagano's influence on women's hockey endures 20 years later

Thanks to that upset, what was already a great rivalry transformed into something altogether epic. The struggle for supremacy between the two hockey superpowers has been nothing short of spectacular since Nagano. The icons of those initial memorable clashes between Team Canada and Team USA have inspired generations of talent. 

Today, that rivalry burns hotter than ever, a common faith with conflicting sects known to every woman who steps on the ice with a stick in her hands in North America.

Little girls who play hockey in the United States and Canada know early on who they need to play for and play against to be achieve greatness. Countless drives to the rink to get ice time, what you eat, where you go to high school, where you go to college — all of it is influenced by one's desire to play a role in this timeless struggle. 

You don't change teams in this rivalry. You don't get rich because you have offered your body, blood, sweat, and tears to it. This is a contest defined by the passion, skill, ferocity, and dedication of its participants. And it is all-consuming. 

MORE:  As USA, Canada women go for gold, battle for bronze one to watch

"It's intense," 2010 Olympic silver medalist Erika Lawler told Sporting News. "Every time you're playing for Team USA and playing against Hockey Canada you want to win no matter what. You'll sacrifice anything to come home with a victory. You'll do whatever it takes on the ice to beat them.

"Every single day you wake up and you're thinking of Canada," Lawler continued. "That's the first thought that crosses your mind. You think, 'I need to get better today because I need to beat Canada.' And I guarantee you that every single one of those Canadian players are waking up and thinking about Team USA."

Rarely do we see two elite teams that are so closely matched. Both teams have players who are generational talents. They possess enchanting amounts of speed and epitomize will and tenacity. Every gold medal game between the U.S. and Canada has been decided by two goals or less. There is perhaps no greater proof of how close these two teams are matched than the last times they crossed sticks at the Olympics.

In Sochi's gold-medal game, Team Canada trailed Team USA by two goals with less than four minutes left in regulation. Against all the odds, Canada scored two goals in two and a half minutes to push the game into overtime. The Americans took a costly penalty in the extra period, giving Canada a 4-on-3 power play. Marie Philip-Poulin delivered with all the open ice at her disposal. It was an immeasurable triumph for Canada and a devastating defeat for America. 

MORE:  Team USA's young goalie trio leads the way to 2018 Olympics

For four years, that defeat has driven the dozens of athletes who have played for Team USA, including 10 holdovers from Sochi. Each and every one of them wants nothing more than to re-write history. They have spent months in residency in Florida preparing for this tournament while the Canadians have spent months centralized in Calgary doing the very same thing.

In that time, the two teams have studied one other. They have watched countless hours of film, skated untold miles in practices and scrimmages, and have played each other eight times since Oct. 22 to prepare for Pyeongchang. Every day, they have woken up and fallen asleep thinking about how to beat one another.

This is what the Olympics are all about. This is as good as hockey gets.

There is only one guaranteed game between Team USA and Team Canada in Pyeongchang, a group play showdown Feb. 15 to determine playoff seeding. But it's all but an inevitability that they will meet again to play for gold one week later. The world will be watching.

By Marc Lancaster

How do you like your eggs in the morning?

Well, the 121-strong contingent of Norwegian athletes and officials attending the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang were spoiled for choice after a comical clerical error saw the team shell out for an extortionate order.

An attempt to purchase 1,500 eggs to help feed the camp went slightly wrong when 15,000 turned up, with the mistake thought to be a translation error or a typo.

Despite the, ahem, eggs-travagant order, Norway's chef-de-mission Tore Ovrebo described the incident as "not a big issue" and was not looking to lay blame at anyone's feet.

"The eggs was more like a misunderstanding than something that we needed so it was an extra zero on the orders so 1,500 to 15,000, s— happens," he said. "They will probably use them I guess and I don't know, maybe the people that supplied us with them will take them back, I don't know. It's not a big issue."

Chef Stale Johansen was reported as telling Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten that the surplus eggs were allowed to be returned to the grocer, and the onus will now be on the athletes not to crack under the pressure when the Games begin…

With the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics upon us, it's time to find out the best ways to stay informed throughout all of the festivities. 

While the IOC and the Pyeongchang Games have their own official accounts, we've put together a list of 15 other must-follow Twitter accounts for the 23rd Winter Olympics.

Whether you are looking for minute-by-minute coverage or want the behind-the-scene scoop from athletes themselves, these accounts will be sure to keep you well informed throughout the Games. 

1.  @miketirico  — Mike Tirico will be the primetime host for the first Olympics since 1992 without Bob Costas. Tirico spent 25 years as a sportscaster with ESPN before he was hired by NBC in 2016 where he became an announcer and host for the network's football coverage. 

2.  @NBCOlympics — NBC, the official broadcast partner of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games, will have full coverage of the events in Pyeongchang on all of its platforms. This account will share everything from behind-the-scene photos, firsthand interviews to rapid updates and observations.

3. @shaunwhite  — Shaun White's journey to the 2018 Winter Games hasn't been easy after a scary accident in October and missing finals at an Olympic qualifier, but the 31 year-old remains optimistic sharing updates on Twitter. White is known for winning and loves to keep his fans in the loop as he heads into his fourth Olympics. 

4.  @TeamUSA  — The official Twitter of the U.S. Olympic Committee is on the ground in Pyeongchang to give updates on the Team USA's 242 athletes at the Winter Games, which is the largest Winter Olympic team for any nation in history. Stay up to date on all of the coverage of your favorite athletes with this account. 

5.  @lindseyvonn  — After overcoming a knee injury that kept her out of the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Lindsey Vonn is back. The 33-year-old has become the face of the U.S. alpine ski team, and the veteran is known to share her thoughts on Twitter, both heading into the race and her analysis afterward.  

6.  @usahockey  — There are some intriguing storylines on the hockey side for the U.S., including the  roster selected for Pyeongchang on the men's squad. It marks the first time since the 1994 Games that the men's team will not feature NHL stars, and instead will include collegiate and European professional league players. Another storyline to watch for the women: they've emerged as a gold medal favorites expected to battle rival Canada. 

7. @ApoloOhno  — As the most decorated U.S. Winter Olympian of all time, Apolo Ohno will have the inside scoop when it comes to short-track speed skating. He hasn't competed since 2010 in Vancouver, but after winning eight medals in three Olympics he commentated the 2014 Sochi Games for NBC. He will join the network again in Pyeongchang.

8.  @JohnnyGWeir  — Two-time Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir, along with Tara Lipinski and host Terry Gannon, will appear as a lead analyst during NBC Olympic primetime coverage of figure skating. He certainly knows what he's talking about when it comes to figure skating, and he's not afraid to share his opinions of the sport on Twitter. There's even a co-account featuring Weir and Lipinski (@TaraandJohnny) if you don't want to miss a single thing — like how many suitcases they packed for their stay in Pyeongchang.

9. @MikaelaShiffrin — In addition to Vonn, Mikaela Shiffrin has emerged as a promising contender to lead Team USA on the slopes. Shiffrin made her Olympic debut in 2014 at only 18 years old where she became the youngest ever to win an Olympic gold medal in the slalom event. 

10. @katiecouric  — Katie Couric, the former host of the "Today" show, will be a part of NBC's broadcast team of the Winter Olympics as she will co-host the opening ceremony. She will also provide commentary and interview select Olympians throughout the games. This will be the fourth Opening Ceremony she has co-hosted and will join Tirico in the booth.

11. @JuliaMancuso  — While Julia Mancuso won't be competing in Pyeongchang as she announced her retirement from skiing just weeks before the Olympics, she will certainly be following the Winter Games and be able to provide special insight into Team USA. Mancuso competed in the Olympics four times and she finished her career as the most decorated skier the U.S. has seen with more Olympic medals than any American woman in alpine skiing. 

12. @USFigureSkating  — The U.S. is expected to have a big presence in figure skating this Olympics with Bradie Tennell, Mirai Nagasu and Karen Chen leading the women's side while Nathan Chen and Adam Rippon lead the men. There is sure to be a lot of action and high-level performances from the U.S. to follow on this account. 

13.  @tedligety  — Veteran Ted Ligety is known as one of the best giant slalom racers in the history of skiing. At age 21, he shocked the world becoming the youngest American male to win an Olympic gold medal in alpine skiing, and in 2014 he won Team USA's first-ever Olympic gold in giant slalom. He loves sharing photos of his journey and will have a lot more opportunities to do so on the ground in Peyongchang. 

14. @usacurl  — If you don't know much about USA Curling, we've got your covered with everything you need to know heading into the Olympics here, but a good account to follow during the Games is curling's official Twitter. The account provides informative links to results and re-tweets some of the best curling content out there, including this gem of Warriors star Stephen Curry attempting to curl. 

15. @ShaniDavis — Speed skater Shani Davis made Olympic history when he became the first African-American from any nation to win a gold medal in an individual sport during the 2006 Olympics at age 24. He qualified for his fifth Olympics, and while his Twitter account may not be as informative as others, it will certainly provide some entertainment. 

By Jack Davies

Lindsey Vonn live tweeted what ended up being an odyssey to get to the Winter Olympics that began with confusion over documentation that left her flight grounded Wednesday.

Hoping to reach South Korea in time for Friday's opening ceremony, the 2010 downhill gold medalist boarded a Lufthansa flight as she set out for Pyeongchang.

However, Vonn said she and her fellow passengers — including her dog, Lucy — were forced to disembark, explaining: "Apparently we don't have the right documentation to fly".

The American kept her Twitter followers informed as the drama unfolded, even conducting a poll on the length of time it would take her to reach Seoul.

A grateful Vonn eventually was allowed to board a new aircraft after six hours of waiting and (spoiler alert) arrived in South Korea in plenty of time to make the opening ceremony.

And about that poll? Actually, it ended up taking 24 hours.

Lucy's a little jetlagged but apparently no worse for the wear.

Ahead of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, Omnisport paid a visit to the Demilitarized Zone running across the Korean Peninsula.

Flying high in the sky, there was a bird that probably did not understand the significance of the land below — a sparse area, with a single road and rail track, backdropped by the crashing sea on one side and jagged mountain peaks behind, almost idyllic.

But a closer look begins to reveal its true meaning. The watchtowers — perched menacingly, staring toward each other, separated by only a few kilometers yet seemingly worlds apart.

It is here that North and South Korea meet — courtesy of the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone). Two countries technically still at war, a rich tapestry of history with dynasties, invasions and global politics at its heart. A gawping tourist attraction now, but with a dark undertone.

Just along the coast to the south, a museum tells the story of the conflict that will see its latest chapter written over the next two weeks.

Even a few months ago, there was much discussion about whether the Winter Olympics would even take place in Pyeongchang. Now, North and South are expected to march together, under a unified flag in the opening ceremony.

The women's hockey teams already have come together, celebrating birthdays with new friends, and are expected to take much of the focus on Saturday against Switzerland, when their Olympic dream begins.

For International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach, this has been a four-year adventure. As an athlete who himself competed for a divided Germany, he knows the benefit of unity in promoting the Olympic spirit. To outsiders, it's a story of fascination, portrayed as good against evil.

For the locals, while some remain reserved about what might be to come, it's an opportunity to embrace one another and move closer to the dream of a peaceful unification.

There is a fear that the younger generation may forget about the struggles of the past, yet away from the observatory and the bird in the sky — the sound of drums, of hope and love for the Korean Peninsula rings out loud.