Competition at the Sochi Olympics officially started on Thursday, 32 hours before the opening ceremony.
Early starts are needed with 12 men’s and women’s medal events added since the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
Men’s snowboard slopestyle qualifying runs without American star Shaun White, who withdrew on Wednesday were beginning 10 a.m. local time at X-Treme Park in the mountains above Sochi.
Women’s qualifying runs were following in the afternoon, and women’s moguls qualifying was scheduled to start freestyle skiing events at 6 p.m. local time.
Men’s slopestyle and women’s moguls are among the first medals to be awarded on Saturday.
Down in Sochi, the new team figure skating competition begins 7.30 p.m. local time at the Iceberg Skating Palace.
The men’s short program is to be followed by the pairs.
