Winter Olympics: Four golds up for grabs
Four gold medals are up for grabs on the first day of the Winter Olympics, with Katerina Neumannova looking to complete her medal collection in the opening event.
The Czech cross-country skier will hope to improve on the silver and bronze medals she won in Nagano four years ago when she takes part in the 15km mass-start freestyle race.
Talented Estonian Kristina Smigun, winner of the only other 15km freestyle mass-start race on the World Cup circuit this season, will also be a threat.
The traditionally strong Norwegian squad is expected to focus on classical style events.
Per Elofsson of Sweden is the overwhelming favourite in the men's 30km freestyle race, the first of five gold medals the World Cup points leader is chasing.
The two-time world champion will face a tough challenge from Norway's Thomas Alsgaard and German-born Spaniard Johann Muehlegg.
In Deer Valley, freestyle skiing gets underway with the women's moguls.
Norway's Kari Traa is the woman to beat down the longest moguls course on the international circuit this year, while Joanne Bromfield competes for Great Britain.
Slovakia, a dark horse in the men's ice hockey competition, take on Germany and Switzerland play France in the opening preliminary round games.
In the absence of world record holder Gianni Romme in the 5000m speedskating, fellow Dutch stars Jochem Uytehaage, Carl Verheijen and Bob de Jong will be vying to succeed him as the Olympic champion.
