BIATHLON

Events: 10 medal events from 10km sprint to 20km individual Venue: Cesana San Sicario Dates: Feb 11-25. One to watch: Legendary Norwegian Ole Einar Bjoerndalen will be back for more after scooping four gold medals in Salt Lake City

BOBSLEIGH

Events: men's two and four-man; women's two-man. Venue: Cesana Pariol Dates: Feb 18-25. One to watch: Todd Hays leads the four-man US1 team again, four years after a mistake on the second run cost them the gold medal

SKELETON

Events: men's; women's. Venue: Cesana Pariol Dates: Feb 16 women's; Feb 17 men's. One to watch: Switzerland's world champion Maya Pedersen has it all to do to see off a strong Canadian challenge

LUGE

Events: Men's single; men's double. Venue: Cesana Pariol Dates: Feb 11-15. One to watch: Armin Zoeggeler dethroned the great Georg Hackl in Salt Lake City and starts favourite to retain his crown

CURLING

Events: men's team; women's team. Venue: Pinerolo Palaghiaccio Dates: Feb 13-24. One to watch: New Canadian captain Shannon Kleibrink will pose the biggest test to Rhona Martin's hopes of retaining her title.

ICE HOCKEY

Events: men's team; women's team. Venue: Palasport Olimpico Dates: Feb 11-26. One to watch: New York Rangers winger Jaromir Jagr leads a strong Czech team bidding to reclaim their 1998 Olympic crown.

SKATING

Events: men's indiv; women's indiv; pairs; ice dancing. Venue: Palavela Dates: Feb 11-24. One to watch: The 2002 silver medallist Irena Slutskaya should benefit from the absence of Mao Asada due to age restrictions.

SPEED SKATING

Events: 12 medal events from 500m to 10,000m. Venue: Oval Lingotto. Dates: Feb 11-25. One to watch: Anni Friesinger, the German star aiming to see off main rival Cindy Klassen and grab an amazing five golds in a single Games.

SHORT-TRACK

Events: 8 medal events from 500m to 5,000m relay. Venue: Palavela Dates: Feb 12-25. One to watch: Apolo Anton Ohno grabbed gold and silver in a controversial 2002 programme and is keen to sweep the board.

SKIING - NORDIC COMBINED

Events: 3 medal events combining ski-jump and cross-country. Venue: Pragelato. Dates: Feb 11, 15, 21. One to watch: Finland's reigning world champion Hannu Manninen has proved virtually unbeatable since the start of the new season.

SKIING - FREESTYLE

Events: men's and women's aerials; moguls. Venue: Sauze d'Oulx Jouvenceaux. Dates: Feb 11-23. One to watch: The 2002 aerials bronze medallist Deidra Dionne bids for an amazing comeback after breaking her neck in training.

SKI-JUMPING

Events: 90m hill; 120m hill; team. Venue: Pragelato. Dates: Feb 11-20. One to watch: Czech Jakub Janda had won four World Cups before the end of December to build up a massive lead in the standings.

ALPINE SKIING

Events: 10 medal events from slalom to downhill. Venue: Sestriere/San Sicario Fraiteve. Dates: Feb 12-25. One to watch: Home favourite Giorgio Rocca hopes to evoke the spirit of the great Alberto Tomba and scoop slalom gold for Italy.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING

Events: 12 medal events from sprint to 50km. Venue: Pragelato. Dates: Feb 12-26. One to watch: Dominant Norwegian world champion Marit Bjoergen is a big favourite to add a handful of Olympic medals to her collection.

SNOWBOARDING

Events: men's and women's half-pipe; parallel g-s; snowboard cross. Venue: Bardonecchia. Dates: Feb 12-23. One to watch: Switzerland's reigning giant-slalom gold medallist Philipp Schoch faces a big test - from his brother Simon.