Alpine skiing , sometimes referred to as downhill skiing, is one of the signature competitions at the Winter Olympics. Competitors regularly reach speeds of up to 152 km/h (95 mph), all while navigating a winding course full of sharp turns and soaring jumps.
Biathlon made its debut at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California, and has been part of the Olympic programme eversince, with new events added to the competition over the years.
The only cross-country events held atthose Games in Chamonix were the men's 50km and 18km competitions, but therewill be 12 events in the competition in Beijing, with 36 medals to be won.