What to watch
Short track speed skating – women’s 500m/1000m/ 1500m (Gangneung Ice Arena, Feb 22)
Four years ago, the Winter Olympic experience was a disaster for Britain’s Elise Christie, who was disqualified from all three short track disciplines. She has since flourished, claiming triple gold at the World Championships, and could well challenge the podium in all three.
Ice hockey – men (Gangneung Hockey Centre, Feb 25)
Two of the last four Winter Olympic finals have been contested by Canada and the United States, but those two nations will be heavily depleted in Pyeongchang after the National Hockey League banned its players from competing. With Russia’s league accommodating a 33-day break, it could give ‘Olympic Athletes From Russia’ the edge.
Freestyle skiing – women’s slopestyle (Phoenix Park, Feb 17)
Aged 19, Izzy Atkin is the youngest member of the 59-strong British contingent for Pyeongchang but there is every chance she could come away with a medal based on the World Cup and X Games bronze medals she won last month and last year’s World Championships bronze. She was born and raised in America but her father is British.
Figure skating – men’s singles (Gangneung Ice Arena, Feb 17)
He is only 23, but Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu is already considered one of the greatest figure skaters of all time. He won gold at his debut Olympics in 2014, is the reigning world champion and has set 12 world records during his short career.
Snowboarding – women’s big air (Alpensia Ski Jumping, Feb 23)
Included for the first time, big air promises to provide some of the most spectacular shots from the Games with boarders producing the most impressive tricks they can on one massive jump. Britain’s Katie Ormerod won bronze at the Olympic test event last year and is targeting a medal here and in slopestyle.
Skeleton – women (Olympic Sliding Centre, Feb 17)
Skeleton has been included in the Winter Olympics on four occasions and Britain has had a woman on the podium at every one. Laura Deas will be hoping to continue the streak of a British debutant winning a medal, while reigning champion Lizzy Yarnold has her sights set on becoming the first woman to defend her title.
Snowboarding – men’s halfpipe (Phoenix Park, Feb 14)
No person has ever transcended winter sports like Shaun White, who is a regular on red carpets in the United States. He was unstoppable for almost a decade when winning 13 X Games and two Winter Olympic titles between 2003 and 2013. A quiet few years spent focusing on business ventures preceded a perfect score of 100 to qualify.
Curling – women (Gangneung Curling, Feb 25)
Britain has excelled in curling since its return to the Winter Olympics in 1998, with Rhona Martin leading the women’s team to gold in 2002. Four years ago Britain’s men claimed silver with the women picking up bronze and Eve Muirhead’s team have their sights set on another medal. As ever, Canada will be favourites.
Alpine skiing – men’s giant slalom (Yongpyong Alpine Centre, Feb 18)
Marcel Hirscher can legitimately lay claim to the title of greatest alpine skier to have never won an Olympic gold. The Swiss skier has picked up the slalom, giant slalom or both World Cup titles for each of the past six years but he could only manage silver in Sochi behind America’s Ted Ligety.
Freestyle skiing – men’s/ women’s ski cross (Phoenix Park, Feb 21/23
Introduced to the Winter Olympics in 2010. With four skiers racing at the same time, the likelihood of collisions is high and anything can – and does – happen. Picking a winner is no easy task.