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Winter Olympics delights with sportsmanship

The Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics has settled into a delightful showcase of sportsmanship after kicking off on a sour note with the death of a Georgian athlete on the opening day.

Luge competitor Nodar Kumaritashvili was killed after a high-speed crash during a training session ahead of the opening ceremony of the games, which are taking place in the Canadian city and the ski resort of Whistler.

However, the event quickly recovered from the incident, with Jacques Rogge, the president of the International Olympic Committee, leading tributes to the athlete and moments of silence during the opening ceremony.

Five days down the line, the Games have turned into a showcase of skill and endurance as athletes from all over the world take on each other in a bid to secure coveted Olympic medals.

Team GB is yet to bag any medals but British athletes are posting a strong performance at the winter games, with Zoe Gillings, who finished 8th in women's Snowboard Cross, among those who have done their bit.

Wednesday February 17th sees the women's 500-metre short track speed skating competition take place in the Pacific Colisuem stadium and three-time Olympian Sarah Lindsay and 19-year-old teammate Elise Christie will be among the competitors.

Jon Eley and Tom Iverson will represent the country in the same event during the men's 1,000-metre heats, after which they will team up with Jack Whelbourne, Anthony Douglas and Paul Worth for the men's 5,000-metre relay semi-finals.

Meanwhile, the Whistler Olympic Park will also host the men's individual cross-country sprint classic event today and British skiers Andrew Young and Andrew Musgrave will be hoping to boost their Olympic experience in the event.

The women's downhill alpine skiing event will also take place at Whistler Creekside, with Chemmy Alcott aiming for the medals.

Written by Chris Smith.ADNFCR-657-ID-19621557-ADNFCR