The Winter Olympics hosts loads of brilliant events, but not all are created equal. While some sports may be methodical and interesting, they don’t exactly get the blood pumping. If you’re looking for excitement and thrills, there are definitely a few sports you should keep an eye on. But before we go through what’s being played right now, let’s look into the past to see what events could’ve been.
Demonstration Sports
Although there are already many varied sports included in the Winter Olympics, they used to hold events they called “demonstration sports”. These demonstration sports were a chance to spotlight lesser-known activities and were often a lot of fun. Unfortunately, as of 1992, demonstration sports are no longer a part of the Winter Olympics. The Olympic Committee decided that the games had grown too big to properly give these unique sports the attention they deserved.
However, in the history of the Winter Olympics, some exciting sports have been demonstrated that would be fantastic to see today.
Skijoring
Demonstrated in the 1928 Winter Olympics, Skijoring has a person on skis pulled by an animal or vehicle as they race around a track. In 1928, racers were pulled by horses, but imagine how exciting it would be to see racers today pulled by vehicles as they desperately slide around icy bends.
Sled Dog Racing
Few sports are as quintessentially winter as sled dog racing. In the 1932 Winter Olympics, racers were pulled through a course with six dogs per sled. Zooming through tight turns and icy slopes must have made it a truly exciting event.
Winter Pentathlon
A pentathlon is an event containing five sports. This version of a winter pentathlon required nothing short of incredible athletic prowess.
It started with standard cross-country skiing, then moved onto target shooting in a test of athletes’ stamina and accuracy. After shooting, competitors would switch to downhill skiing before taking part in a short fencing match. Once the fencing concluded, the athletes then climbed onto horses and competed in riding events to score the most points.
This incredible five-course-feast was only featured in the 1948 Winter Olympics, and it looks unlikely it’ll be back any time soon.
Most Exciting Current Sports
While those three demonstration sports aren’t – and may never again be – contested in the Winter Olympics, there are still plenty of thrills to be had with the current events that are played.
Biathlon
Though it’s missing three of the pentathlon’s events, the biathlon still brings a lot of excitement. Beginning life as a show of military strength, the biathlon has athletes compete in cross-country skiing and target shooting.
Snowboarding
Since its blast to popularity, snowboarding has been considered by many to be a cool and exciting sport. Snowboarders attach themselves to flat boards and soar downhill at intense speeds.
The Winter Olympics has a range of snowboarding events. From trick performances to distance scoring, each event has thrills aplenty.
Ski Jumping
It’s easy to see why ski jumping is a favourite in the Winter Olympics. In ski jumping, athletes throw themselves down huge declines. At the end, they hit a big ramp and soar through the sky in an attempt to land the furthest.
Will they beat the record? Can they stick the landing? Will they ever come down? These sorts of questions run through your mind as you watch that skier fly above the world at impossible speeds.
Ice Hockey
There’s only one thing more exciting than a full-contact sport: a full-contact sport on ice! Two teams battle it out to pelt a rubber puck into the opposing team’s net. Hard crashes and falls are guaranteed. Matches often get extremely competitive and intense.
Bobsleigh
Like a bullet, bobsleighs shoot down the narrow path before them. If the team isn’t careful, they could hit a corner wrong and end their shot at glory. It may not take long to reach the end of the track, but every second will have you on the edge of your seat.
What Are the Most Popular Winter Olympics Sports?
While the sports listed above may be the most exciting, that doesn’t mean they’re the most followed.
According to YouGov Sport, ski jumping is the most followed sport according to a UK survey. This was followed by bobsleigh and then figure skating.
In the US, figure skating is by far the most popular sport of the Winter Olympics.
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