A Brief Introduction to Winter Olympic Sports 冬奧會運動項目

孟潔冰

Alpine skiing， skiing technique that evolved during the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the mountainous terrain of the Alps in central Europe. Modern Alpine competitive skiing is divided into the so-called speed and technical events， the former comprising downhill skiing and the supergiant slalom， or super-G， and the latter including the slalom and giant slalom. The speed events are contested in single runs down long， steep， fast courses featuring few and widely spaced turns. The technical events challenge the skier’s ability to maneuver over courses marked by closely spaced gates through which both skis must pass; winners are determined by the lowest combined time in two runs on two different courses. The Alpine combined event consists of a downhill and a slalom race， with the winner having the lowest combined time.

Freestyle skiing combines speed， showmanship and the ability to perform aerial manoeuvres whilst skiing. It can consist of a skier performing aerial flips and spins， and can include skiers sliding rails and boxes on their skis. It is also commonly referred to as freeskiing， jibbing， as well as many other names around the world.

Forms of freestyle skiing include Aerial skiing， Mogul skiing， Ski ballet， Ski cross， Half-pipe skiing， and Slopestyle.

As for equipment， twin-tip skis are used in events such as slopestyle and half-pipe. Mogul skis are used in moguls and sometimes in aerials. Specially designed racing skis are used in ski cross. Ski bindings took a major design change to include plate bindings mounted to the bottom of the skiers boot to allow for multi-directional release.

Cross-country skiing is the oldest type of skiing. It emerged from a need to travel over snow-covered terrain and developed as a sport at the end of the 19th century. It is a form of skiing where skiers rely on their own locomotion to move across snow-covered terrain， rather than using ski lifts or other forms of assistance. Modern cross-country skiing is similar to the original form of skiing， from which all skiing disciplines evolved， including alpine skiing， ski jumping and Telemark skiing. Skiers propel themselves either by striding forward （classic style） or side-to-side in a skating motion （skate skiing）， aided by arms pushing on ski poles against the snow. The men’s event debuted at the first Winter Olympic Games in Chamonix in 1924 and the women’s event debuted at the 1952 Oslo Games.

Ski jumping is a winter sport which was firstly contested in Norway in the late 19th century， and it has been included at the Winter Olympics since 1924， while the first women’s event at the Olympics has been held in 2014.

The ski jumping venue consists of the jumping ramp （in-run）， take-off table， and a landing hill. Each jump is evaluated according to the distance traveled and the style performed. The distance score is related to the construction point （also known as the K-point）， which is a line drawn in the landing area and serves as a “target” for the competitors to reach. The score of each judge evaluating the style can reach a maximum of 20 points.

This sport， which has a long Olympic history， combines ski jumping and cross country skiing.

Nordic combined individual events have featured in every Games since the first Olympic Winter Games in Chamonix in 1924. Unsurprisingly， the sport has been dominated by the Norwegians， supported by the Finns. Indeed， it was not until 1960 that the Nordic grip on Olympic triumphs in this discipline was finally broken when West German Georg Thoma won the gold medal at Squaw Valley in 1960.In the early-2010s the International Ski Federation sanctioned no women’s competitions. However it was decided in early-November 2016 that women’s competitions were to be established at the Olympic Winter Games in 2022.

Snowboarding， winter sport with roots in skiing， surfing， and skateboarding where the primary activity is riding down any snow-covered surface while standing on a snowboard with feet positioned roughly perpendicular to the board and its direction， further differentiating it from skiing， in which riders face forward. Moreover， no poles are used as in skiing， and the majority of participants wear not hard but soft-to mid-flexing boots for support.

Men’s and women’s snowboarding made their Olympic debuts at the Nagano Games in 1998 with giant slalom and half-pipe competitions. The discipline proved an instant success and returned to Salt Lake City four years later with parallel giant slalom and half-pipe competitions. In Turin， snowboard cross also made its debut. In this event four riders race across a course studded with jumps， bumps and huge turns.

A biathlon competition consists of a race in which contestants ski through a cross-country trail system whose total distance is divided into either two or four shooting rounds， half in prone position， the other half standing. Depending on the shooting performance， extra distance or time is added to the contestant’s total running distance/time. The contestant with the shortest total time wins.

For each shooting round， the biathlete must hit five targets and receives a penalty for each missed target， which varies according to the competition rules.

In order to keep track of the contestants’ progress and relative standing throughout a race， split times （intermediate times） are taken at several points along the skiing track and upon finishing each shooting round. The large display screens commonly set up at biathlon arenas， as well as the information graphics shown as part of the TV picture， will typically list the split time of the fastest contestant at each intermediate point and the times and time differences to the closest runners-up.

Bobsleigh is a winter sport invented by the Swiss in the late 1860s in which teams make timed runs down narrow， twisting， banked， iced tracks in a gravity-powered sled. In 1924， a four-man race took place at the first ever Olympic Winter Games in Chamonix. A two-man event was added at the 1932 Lake Placid Games in a format that has remained to the present. The first women’s bobsleigh event—the two-woman bobsled—was held in 2002.

Tracks are made of concrete， coated with ice. They are required to have at least one straight section and one labyrinth （three turns in quick succession without a straight section）. Ideally， a modern track should be 1，200 to 1，300 metres long and have at least fifteen curves. Speeds may exceed 120 kilometres per hour. Some bobsleigh tracks are also used for luge and skeleton competition.

Individual runs down the course， or “heats”， begin from a standing start， with the crew pushing the sled for up to 50 metres （160 ft） before boarding. Over the rest of the course， a sleigh’s speed depends on its weight， aerodynamics， runners， the condition of the ice， and the skill of the pilot.

Race times are recorded in hundredths of seconds， so even seemingly minor errors—especially those at the beginning， which affect the remainder of the heat—can have a measurable impact on the final race standings.

Luge is one of the oldest winter sports. It involves competitors lying on their backs on a tiny sled with their feet stretched out in front of them， and racing down an icy track at speeds in the range of 140 km/h， without brakes. As well as the singles， there is a pairs event， with the larger of the two team members lying on top for better aerodynamics. Unlike bobsleigh， however， luge riders have no protection should they make an error.

In 1964， luge made its Olympic debut， at the Innsbruck Games， with a mixed event， a men’s event and a women’s event. The programme has not changed since then. Since 1976， this sport has taken place on the same track as bobsleigh.

The sport of luge requires an athlete to balance mental and physical fitness. To become an elite luger， a competitor must begin training at an early age and spend decades honing their skills. Physically， a luger must have strong neck， upper body， abdominal， and thigh muscles. Strength training is essential to withstand the extreme G-forces of tight turns at high speeds. Since lugers have very little protection other than a visor and helmet， they must be able to endure the physical pounding administered by the track when mistakes are made.

Skeleton is a winter sport featured in the Winter Olympics where the competitor rides head-first and prone （lying face down） on a flat sled. Like luge， the sport involves racing a sled down an icy track. Unlike luge， skeleton sleds are ridden face first. It is normally run on an ice track that allows the sled to gain speed by gravity. It was first contested at the 1928 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz and again in 1948 Winter Olympics， after which it was discontinued as an Olympic sport. Skeleton was reintroduced at the 2002 Winter Olympics， with both men’s and women’s events， and has been held in each Winter Olympic competition since. Skeleton is so-named as the first metal sleds introduced in 1892 were said to resemble a human skeleton. It is considered the world’s first sliding sport.

The format for Olympic skeleton involves two timed runs. The top men and women from the first run compete in the second run， which is held later that same day. The combined time of the two runs determines the final standings.

The sled can only be ridden in the prone position （face first， on the stomach）， and although the rider can leave the sled to push or move it， he or she must cross the finish line on the sled in order for the run to be considered valid.

Warming the sled’s metal runners or using any substance that improves sliding is prohibited. At the start of the race， the temperature of the runners must be within 4°C of the reference runner， which is exposed to the open air for one hour before the start of the competition.

Speed skating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in travelling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating， short track speed skating， and marathon speed skating. In the Olympic Games， long-track speed skating is usually referred to as just “speed skating”， while short-track speed skating is known as “short track”.

Speed skating appeared for the first time in 1924 at the first Olympic Winter Games in Chamonix. Initially， only men were allowed to participate. It was only at the Lake Placid Games in 1932 that women were authorised to compete in speed skating， which was then only a demonstration sport. It was not until the 1960 Games in Squaw Valley that women’s speed skating was officially included in the Olympic programme.

Races are run counter-clockwise on a 400-meter oval. The events almost always follow the European system， which consists of skaters competing two-by-two. Skaters must change lanes every lap. The skater changing from the outside lane to the inside has right-of-way. Skaters may be disqualified for false starts， impeding， and cutting inside the track. If a skater misses their race or falls they have the option to race their distance again. There are no heats or finals in long track， all rankings are by time.

Figure skating is a sport in which individuals， duos， or groups perform on figure skates on ice. It was the first winter sport included in the Olympics， in 1908. Olympic sports in figure skating comprise the following disciplines：

● Singles competition for men and women （who are referred to as “ladies” in ISU rulebooks）， wherein individual skaters perform jumps， spins， step sequences， spirals， and other elements in their programs.

● Pair skating teams consist of a woman and a man. Pairs perform elements that are specific to the discipline such as throw jumps， in which the man ‘throws’ the woman into a jump; lifts， in which the woman is held above the man’s head in one of various grips and positions; pair spins， in which both skaters spin together about a common axis; death spirals; and other elements such as side-by-side jumps and spins in unison.

● Ice dancing is again for couples consisting of a woman and a man skating together. Ice dance differs from pairs in focusing on intricate footwork performed in close dance holds， in time with the music. Ice dance lifts must not go above the shoulder.

The four disciplines of men’s singles， ladies’ singles， pair skating and ice dancing also appeared as part of a team event for the first time at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Short track speed skating is a form of competitive ice speed skating. In competitions， multiple skaters （typically between four and six） skate on an oval ice track with a circumference of 111.111 metres （364.54 ft）. The rink itself is 60 metres （200 ft） by 30 metres （98 ft）， which is the same size as an international-sized ice hockey rink. Short track speed skating is the sister sport to long track speed skating.

In short track speed skating， athletes compete not against the clock， but against each other. This introduces the elements of strategy， bravery and skill needed for racing.

After having been a demonstration sport at the 1988 Games in Calgary， short track speed skating became part of the Olympic programme in Albertville in 1992， with two individual events and two relays. The discipline comprises men’s and women’s events. Since the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin， the programme of this discipline has included eight events.

In recent Games， China and South Korea have emerged to challenge North American dominance in this event. Indeed at the 2006 Turin Games， it was South Korea who emerged as the nation to beat， winning an incredible six gold medals， and 11 medals in total.

Ice hockey is a contact team sport played on ice， usually in a rink， in which two teams of skaters use their sticks to shoot a vulcanized rubber puck into their opponent’s net to score points. The sport is known to be fast-paced and physical， with teams usually consisting of six players each： one goaltender， and five players who skate up and down the ice trying to take the puck and score a goal against the opposing team.

Six-a-side men’s ice hockey has been on the programme of every edition of the Winter Games since 1924 in Chamonix. Women’s ice hockey was accepted as an Olympic sport in 1992， and made its official debut in 1998 in Nagano.

Within certain restrictions， players may redirect the puck with any part of their body. Players may not hold the puck in their hand and are prohibited from using their hands to pass the puck to their teammates， unless they are in the defensive zone. Players are also prohibited from kicking the puck into the opponent’s goal， though intentional redirections off the skate are permitted. Players may not intentionally bat the puck into the net with their hands.

Curling is a sport in which players slide stones on a sheet of ice towards a target area which is segmented into four concentric circles. Two teams， each with four players， take turns sliding heavy， polished granite stones， also called rocks， across the ice curling sheet towards the house， a circular target marked on the ice. Each team has eight stones. The purpose is to accumulate the highest score for a game; points are scored for the stones resting closest to the centre of the house at the conclusion of each end， which is completed when both teams have thrown all of their stones. A game usually consists of eight or ten ends.

The curler can induce a curved path by causing the stone to slowly turn as it slides， and the path of the rock may be further influenced by two sweepers with brooms who accompany it as it slides down the sheet， using the brooms to alter the state of the ice in front of the stone. Sweeping a rock makes it curl less， and decreases the friction that slows the rock down. A great deal of strategy and teamwork go into choosing the ideal path and placement of a stone for each situation， and the skills of the curlers determine how close to the desired result the stone will achieve. This gives curling its nickname of “chess on ice”.

高山滑雪是19世紀末到20世紀初在歐洲中部阿爾卑斯山區形成的滑雪技術?，F代高山滑雪比賽分為速度系列和技術系列，速度系列包括滑降和超級大回轉，技術系列包括回轉和大回轉。速度系列以單次滑行成績決出名次，賽道距離長、坡度陡、速度快、轉彎少而幅度大。技術系列考驗選手的滑行技巧，要求雙板必須穿過賽道上緊密排列的旗門;選手要采用兩條不同的路線，兩次滑行成績相加后，用時最少的選手為獲勝者。全能賽包括滑降和回轉賽，成績累計后用時最少的選手獲得冠軍。

自由式滑雪是結合速度、表現力和空中技巧能力的滑雪運動，要求選手完成空翻和轉體動作，或穿著滑雪板在由鐵軌、箱子等構成的賽道上比賽。自由式滑雪通常被稱為花式滑雪、極搏，在全球各地也有許多其他名稱。

自由式滑雪項目包括空中技巧、雪上技巧、雪上芭蕾、障礙追逐、U型場地技巧和坡面障礙技巧。

在滑雪裝備方面，花式滑雪板用于坡面障礙技巧和U型場地技巧等項目。而雪丘滑雪板用于雪上技巧，有時也用于空中技巧。特殊設計的競技滑雪板用于障礙追逐?；┌骞潭ㄆ鬟M行了重要的設計調整，把板式固定器安裝到選手雪靴的底部，可以從多個方向進行脫卸。

越野滑雪是最古老的滑雪方式，源于人類雪地旅行的需要，在19世紀末發展成為一項體育運動。這項運動需要選手依靠自己的滑行翻過雪坡，而不是借助滑雪纜車或其他輔助工具?，F代越野滑雪與原始的滑雪方式類似，包括高山滑雪、跳臺滑雪和特里馬滑雪在內，所有的滑雪項目都由這項運動演變而來。選手用雙手握滑雪杖插入雪地，采用向前跨步（傳統式）或側向滑行（自由式）的方式推動身體前進。 1924年的第一屆沙莫尼冬奧會上，男子越野滑雪首次成為正式比賽項目，女子項目在1952年奧斯陸冬奧會上首次出現。

跳臺滑雪是19世紀末起源于挪威的冬季運動，1924年以來被列入歷屆冬奧會的比賽項目，2014年冬奧會首次加入女子項目。

跳臺滑雪場地由滑道（助滑道）、起跳臺和著陸區組成。裁判根據飛行距離和完成姿勢對選手每次跳躍進行評分。飛行距離的分數與著陸點（K點）有關，這條線位于著陸區，是比賽選手需要達到的“標準”。每位裁判對完成姿勢的最高給分為20分。

北歐兩項由跳臺滑雪和越野滑雪組成，是歷史悠久的奧運比賽項目。

1924年第一屆沙莫尼冬季奧運會以來，北歐兩項個人賽被列入歷屆冬奧會的比賽項目。當然，這項運動是挪威選手優勢項目，也是芬蘭選手的體育強項。事實上，直到1960年西德選手格奧爾格·托馬在斯闊谷冬奧會上贏得了金牌，才最終打破了北歐選手對該項目奧運會冠軍的壟斷。2010年代初，國際滑雪聯合會還沒有批準設立該項目女子組的比賽。不過在2016年11月初，該組織決定將于2022年冬奧會將女子北歐兩項正式列入比賽項目。

單板滑雪是源于滑雪、沖浪和滑板的冬季運動，主要利用滑雪板從雪坡上滑降，選手雙腳站立的位置與滑雪板和滑行方向呈垂直狀，這使它與滑雪區別開來，滑雪選手正對前方。此外，單板滑雪不使用雪杖，大多數選手不穿硬鞋，而是穿著軟鞋或硬度適中的鞋提供支撐。

在1998年長野冬奧會上，男子單板滑雪和女子單板滑雪首次被列入比賽項目，進行了大回轉和U型場地技巧比賽。這個項目很快獲得了成功，并在四年后的鹽湖城冬奧會上進行了平行大回轉和U型場地技巧比賽。在都靈冬奧會上，單板滑雪越野賽首次亮相。在越野賽中，四名選手要穿過分布著跳躍點、雪丘和急轉彎的賽道。

冬季兩項比賽中，選手在越野滑雪比賽場地滑行，過程中進行兩輪或四輪射擊，一半為臥射，另一半為立射。根據射擊成績的高低，選手要在總滑行距離/時間上增加額外的距離或時間?？傆嬘脮r最少的選手獲勝。

在每輪射擊中，冬季兩項運動員每一射擊點射五發子彈，每脫靶一次要接受懲罰，懲罰內容根據比賽規則有所不同。

為在比賽過程中追蹤選手的進度和相對排名，需要在選手經過滑雪賽道上的幾個計時點和完成每輪射擊后，計算他們所用的分段時間（中途時間）。冬季兩項的場地通常會設置大型顯示屏，電視畫面上也會顯示成績表，通常會列出每個中間點速度最快選手的分段時間，以及成績最接近的選手所用的時間和時間差距。

雪車是19世紀60年代末瑞士人發明的冬季運動，參賽隊伍乘坐雪車，在重力作用下沿著狹窄彎曲、兩側設有護墻的冰面滑道滑下，并計算時間。1924年，男子四人賽成為首屆沙莫尼冬奧會的比賽項目。1932年的普萊西德湖冬奧會新增了男子雙人賽項目，這個項目持續至今。女子雙人賽在2002年作為首項女子雪車運動進入冬奧會。

雪車的滑道以混凝土建成，表面澆冰，至少包括一個直道和一個迷宮形賽道（連續出現三個轉彎而沒有直道）。理論上，現代雪車賽道長度應為1200到1300米，全程至少設有15個彎道。雪車的滑行速度可能超過每小時120公里。有些雪車賽道也可以用于雪橇和鋼架雪車比賽。

選手要從出發開始“加速”，推動雪車奔跑50米（160英尺）的距離，然后快速登上雪車滑行。在后面的賽道上，雪車的速度取決于自身重量、空氣動力、滑橇板、冰面狀況和舵手的能力。

雪車比賽的時間計算精確至百分之一秒，所以即使看似很小的失誤（尤其是影響后面賽程的出發失誤），對最終的比賽排名都有明顯的影響。

雪橇是最古老的冬季運動之一。在比賽中，選手仰面躺在小型的雪車上，雙腳朝前，無制動器沿冰面滑道滑下，最高時速可達每小時140公里。除了單人賽以外，雪橇還有雙人比賽，兩位參賽選手中身材高大的運動員躺在后面，以更好地利用空氣動力。然而與雪車不同的是，如果雪橇選手出現失誤的話，得不到任何保護。

1964年，雪橇在因斯布魯克冬奧會上首次亮相，該屆奧運會舉行了混合雙人賽和男子、女子單人賽。此后這個項目沒有發生過變化，1976年以來，雪橇比賽與雪車使用同一賽道。

雪橇運動要求運動員擁有平衡的身體素質和心理素質。要想成為優秀的雪橇選手，運動員必須從小開始訓練，用數十年時間進行技能訓練。在身體素質方面，雪橇選手必須有強壯的頸部、上身、腹肌和大腿肌肉。力量訓練對選手承受高速急轉彎的極限離心力至關重要。因為除了帶面罩的頭盔以外，雪橇選手使用的保護裝備很少，所以一旦出現失誤，他們必須能夠承受賽道上的身體撞擊。

鋼架雪車是冬奧會特有的一項運動，選手頭朝前俯臥在平板雪車上進行比賽。像雪橇一樣，這個項目也是在雪車上沿著冰道向下滑行，不同的是，鋼架雪車采取頭部朝前的姿勢，通常允許雪車通過自身重力在冰道上進行加速。這項運動在1928年圣莫里茨冬奧會上首次亮相，并再度出現在1948年冬奧會上，此后被取消。鋼架雪車在2002年重返冬奧會，設立男子個人項目和女子個人項目，此后成為歷屆冬奧會的正式比賽項目。據說，鋼架雪車是因1892年的第一架金屬雪車的造型類似人類骨架而得名。這項運動被認為是全世界第一個滑行項目。

奧運會的鋼架雪車比賽包括兩輪計時賽。第一輪比賽中成績最好的男女運動員晉級第二輪，第二輪比賽在當天晚些時候舉行。兩輪比賽的成績相加，決定最終的選手排名。

在鋼架雪車比賽中，選手只能以俯臥（頭部向前、腹部朝下）姿態滑行，雖然可以離開雪車，推動或移動雪車前進，但是選手通過終點線時必須在雪車上，否則成績無效。

比賽中禁止加熱雪車的金屬冰刃，也不準用任何提高滑行速度的材料。在比賽開始時，參賽雪車冰刃的溫度與參考冰刃的溫度相差不得超過4攝氏度，參考冰刃在比賽開始前放在室外一個小時。

速度滑冰是一項競速類滑冰比賽，選手穿著冰鞋滑行一段距離后，需要相互交換賽道。速度滑冰的比賽包括長距離比賽、短距離比賽和馬拉松比賽。在奧運會上，長距離比賽通常稱為“速度滑冰”，而短距離比賽稱為“短道速滑”。

速度滑冰在1924年第一屆沙莫尼冬奧會上首次亮相，最初只設男子組比賽。在1932年的普萊西德湖冬奧會上，女選手獲準參加速度滑冰比賽，當時僅作為表演項目。直到1960年斯闊谷冬奧會，女子速度滑冰才正式列入奧運會比賽項目。

比賽在400米橢圓形冰道上進行，選手按逆時針方向滑行。這個項目基本一直采用歐洲競賽規則，即兩兩進行比賽，必須每圈交換賽道，從外道換到內道的選手可以優先通過。選手可能因為起跑犯規、推擠和切入跑道而被取消比賽資格。如果選手未能正?；芑蛘咚さ箷r，可以選擇重新開始比賽。速度滑冰沒有預賽或決賽，以完成時間決定所有名次。

花樣滑冰是選手穿著花樣滑冰鞋在冰上表演的運動項目，包括單人滑、雙人滑和團體比賽。1908年，花樣滑冰成為奧運會的首個冬季運動項目?；踊膴W運會項目包括以下幾個小項：

● 男子單人滑和女子單人滑（在國際滑冰聯盟規則手冊中稱為ladies），個人選手在節目中表演跳躍、旋轉、接續步、燕式步和其他技術動作。

● 雙人滑團隊由一位女選手和一位男選手組成，兩人要表演雙人滑特有的技術動作，比如拋跳：女選手借助男選手拋出的力量完成跳躍;托舉：男選手以不同的握法和姿勢把女選手舉過頭頂;雙人旋轉：兩位選手圍繞共同的軸心旋轉;螺旋線;其他技術動作，比如并肩跳躍和聯合旋轉。

● 冰舞由一名女伴和一名男伴共同在冰上表演。冰舞與雙人滑的區別在于，冰舞注重配合音樂節奏在舞伴始終靠近彼此的舞蹈表演中呈現復雜的步法;冰舞的托舉高度一定不能超過肩膀。

2014年冬奧會首次設立花樣滑冰團體賽，包括男子單人滑、女子單人滑、雙人滑和冰舞四個項目。

短道速滑是一項競速類滑冰運動。在比賽中，多位滑冰選手（通常為四到六人）沿著111.111米（364.54英尺）的橢圓形賽道滑行。比賽場地的面積為60米×30米（200英尺×98英尺），與國際冰球場地面積相同。短道速滑是長道速度滑冰的姊妹運動。

在短道速滑比賽中，運動員不僅要與時間賽跑，還要和對手較量。這項比賽要求選手具備策略、勇氣和技術等要素。

在1988年卡爾加里冬奧會上，短道速滑作為表演項目首次亮相，此后在1992年阿爾貝維爾冬奧會上成為正式比賽項目，設立了兩項個人賽和兩項接力賽。短道速滑包括男子和女子項目。2006年都靈奧運會以來，短道速滑已經擁有八個小項。

最近幾屆冬奧會上，中國和韓國對北美選手在這個項目的統治地位發起了挑戰。韓國在2006年都靈冬奧會上成為該項目的強者，贏得了六枚金牌，總共斬獲十一枚獎牌。

冰球是一項在冰上進行的接觸性團體運動，通常在室內冰場舉行比賽，兩支球隊的選手使用球桿把硬橡膠冰球打入對方球門得分。這項運動以比賽節奏快和身體沖撞而出名，通常每支球隊有六名球員上場，包括一名守門員，五名選手在冰場上來回滑行，爭奪冰球，進球得分。

1924年沙莫尼冬奧會以來，男子六人制冰球一直是歷屆冬奧會的比賽項目。女子冰球在1992年被列為冬奧會比賽項目，1998年在長野冬奧會上首次正式亮相。

在特定的限制內，選手可以用身體任何部位改變冰球的運動方向。但是選手不準用手抓住冰球，也不能用手把冰球扔給隊友，除非他們位于防守區。雖然準許選手有意地用冰鞋改變球的方向，但不準把冰球踢入對方的球門。選手不能用手把冰球打入球網。

冰壺是選手在冰面上把石壺擲向四個同心圓組成的目標區的一項運動。比賽由兩支隊伍參加，每隊各有四名隊員，輪流擲出花崗巖拋光制成的沉重石壺（也稱為“石球”），穿過“冰道”，滑向冰面的圓形目標“營壘”。每支隊伍可以擲出八個冰壺，目的是獲得每場比賽的最高分;兩支隊伍擲出所有的石壺為一局，每局結束后，石壺接近營壘圓心的隊伍得分。一場比賽通常由八到十局組成。

冰壺選手可以讓冰壺在滑行時緩慢轉動，兩位手持刷子的刷冰員跟隨冰壺沿冰道前進，使用刷子在前方的冰面上擦拭，進一步調整冰壺的滑行路線，從而使冰壺走曲線。刷冰可以降低冰壺的旋轉速度，并減少冰面的摩擦力，而摩擦力是導致冰壺滑行放緩的原因。冰壺比賽需要采用諸多策略和團隊合作，選擇不同情況下冰壺的理想路線和位置，冰壺選手的能力決定了冰壺最終距離與預期目標的遠近。這也讓冰壺獲得了“冰上象棋”的美稱。