Two years after the London 2012 Games, it is once again time to follow the Olympic and Paralympic athletes’ incredible performances. This time, in the Russian city of Sochi, and in colder temperatures. While waiting for the Rio 2016 Games to arrive, how about getting to know the history of the Winter Games and snow and ice sports?

In 1896, when Frenchman Baron Pierre de Coubertin launched the modern era Olympic Games, only summer sports featured in the competition. The Winter Olympic Games were held for the first time in 1924, in the French city of Chamonix, under the name of ‘International Winter Sports Week’. Though not particularly popular in tropical countries, the event – attended by 258 athletes from 16 countries – was so successful that it has come to be considered the first Winter Games in history.

From 1924 until 1936, Summer and Winter Games were held simultaneously. After the Second World War, during which both editions were cancelled, the Games started to be held in different countries and, in 1986, the winter competitions were officially separated from the summer ones. Since then, the Winter Games gather sports enthusiasts from the whole world every four years, always held two years after the summer edition. 

The Second World War also had a decisive role in the history of the Paralympic Games. War veterans, wounded in combat, found in sport the opportunity to become active once again. For the winter competitions, Paralympic skiing was the major driving force behind this movement. The first Paralympic Winter Games took place in 1976 in Sweden and included the participation of about 250 wheelchair users, amputees and visually impaired people from 14 countries.

 Sochi 2014 Games gather athletes from 20 sports

The Russian city of Sochi is the setting for the 22^nd edition of the Winter Games. This is the first time the country has held the event, despite having hosted the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow. With more than 2,500 athletes from 80 countries, competitions in seven Olympic sports and five Paralympic ones promise breath-taking moments. Do you know them all? Check out the sports that make up the Sochi 2014 Games programme below.

Winter Olympic Games:

1.       Biathlon

(Photo: Getty Images/Martin Rose)

Originating in Scandinavia, in northern Europe, where the locals hunt with rifles and travel on skis in the midst of snow-covered forests. Biathlon combines the strength and drive of cross-country skiing with the accuracy and calm required for shooting.

2.       Bobsleigh

(Photo: Getty Images/Adam Pretty)

Bobsleigh: known worldwide from the success of the film ‘Cool Runnings’, the sport was created by the Swiss. Competitions consist of teams of two or four people that use a sledge to slide down a narrow and twisty ice ramp on a timed run.

Skeleton: practiced in men’s and women’s singles, competitors in this discipline also use a sledge to slide on ice, but, in this case, they compete face down.

3.       Curling

(Photo: Getty Images/ Daniel Kopatsch)

Of Scottish origin, curling is played by teams that aim to place the largest number of granite stones, of almost 20kg, at the centre of a target in a rectangular sheet of ice. For this purpose, they have the invaluable help of brooms that direct the objects across the surface of the ice.

4.       Skiing

(Photo: Getty Images/Ezra Shaw)

Nordic combined: A men-only competition, this discipline merges jumping events and cross-country skiing.

Alpine skiing: With the goal of completing a pre-defined downhill track within the shortest possible time, the athletes reach high speeds and must go through mandatory obstacles that mark changes of direction.

Cross-country skiing: this most ancient kind of skiing was created to allow travel across completely snow-covered territory, and became a sport in the late 19^th century. In the Games, competitors must endure real marathons on snow with climbs and descents as well as different kinds of terrain.

Freestyle skiing: combines speed and ability to perform aerial manoeuvres, such as those of downhill skiing and acrobatic jumping.

Snowboard: one of the most famous and popular winter sports, it has fans across the globe. Snowboarding follows surfing and skating in keeping one’s balance on a board, but, in this case, competitors must slide through the snow in search of the best time or a perfect manoeuvre.

Ski Jumping: originating in Norway at the beginning of the 19^th century, it was spread throughout the world by Norwegian skier Sondre Norheim, a modern skiing icon. As the name indicates, the discipline consists of jumps evaluated by judges.

5.       Ice Hockey

(Photo: Getty Images/Martin Rose)

Of Canadian origins, two teams of six players compete against each other in order to hit the puck (a disc made of rubber) into the back of the opponents’ net.

6.       Luge

(Photo: Getty Images/Alex Livesey)

In singles or doubles events, the athletes slide on ice at high speed in a type of sledge.

7.       Skating

(Photo: Getty Images/Quinn Rooney)

Figure skating: of Dutch origins, the sport was developed in North America. It stands out as one of the oldest disciplines of the Winter Olympic Games programme.

Speed skating: the sport developed from efforts to allow travel across frozen rivers and lakes. Most events take place as timed races, in which competitors can reach up to 60km/h.

Short track speed skating: another skating discipline, its differential is the collective start. It appeared in the United States and Canada in the 20^th century, as training for skaters.

Paralympic Winter Games:

1. Biathlon

(Photo: Getty Images/Kevin Cox)

Combining cross-country skiing and shooting, the sport requires physical strength and accuracy. In it, athletes are divided into 15 classes, according to their physical or visual impairment – the latter are aided by guides in the cross-country events. The presence of a guide is mandatory regardless of the class, as are audible signals, which indicate the closeness of the targets in the shooting events.

2. Wheelchair curling

(Photo: Getty Images/Kevin Cox)

The big difference between wheelchair curling and its Olympic counterpart is the absence of brooms: players use a stick to launch the stones, but cannot change their path. The goal, however, is the same: to place the stones as close as possible to the centre of the target, within the boundaries of the field of play. People with limited mobility, cerebral palsy or wheelchair users play the sport. 

3. Alpine Skiing

(Photo: Getty Images/Jamie McDonald)

Men and women with different types of disabilities, such as wheelchair users, amputees, and people with visual impairment or cerebral palsy can take part in the sport. Depending on the athlete’s disability, sitting skis and skiing chairs may be used. A guide helps visually impaired competitors.

4. Cross-country skiing

(Photo: Getty Images/Nick Laham)

Men and women with different types of disabilities, such as wheelchair users, amputees, and people with visual impairment or cerebral palsy can take part in the sport. Depending on the athlete’s disability, sitting skis and skiing chairs may be used. A guide helps visually impaired competitors.

5. Ice sledge hockey

(Photo: Getty Images/Martin Rose)