Another action-packed day of winter sports at the Sochi Games sees seven gold medals awarded as well as one of the world’s most famous violinists taking to the slopes.
While she is very unlikely to feature in the medals in the women’s giant slalom, violin sensation Vanessa Mae, now 35, will ski for Thailand – the country of her father’s birth, in what is sure to be another memorable Winter Olympics moment.
Up at the sharp end, the likes of Austria’s Anna Fenninger, Switzerland’s Lara Gut and American Mikaela Shiffrin expected to shine for the medal placings.
Great Britain’s interest on day 11 begins right from the very off as David Murdoch’s side take on Norway in a tie-breaker to decide who plays in the semi-finals.
A narrow defeat by China on Monday means Britain’s men must play the Norwegians, with their colourful trousers, for a place against Sweden in Thursday’s last four games.
After a heart-breaking Olympics so far, Britain’s short track skater Elise Christie returns to the ice in the women’s 1,000m heats, her main event, at around 10.00am.
The 23-year-old Scottish skater was billed as Britain’s best short track hope prior to the Games and first must come through today’s heats before Friday’s final rounds.
The ultimate in long-distance speed skating at the Games, the 10,000m is highly likely to be won by a Dutchman – the Netherlands swept the podium at the 2013 World Championships, also held in Sochi.
Dutch hopes were high four years ago in Vancouver only to see speed skating legend Sven Kramer disqualified for a lane violation having finished first.
Canada’s Kaillie Humphries is the undoubted favourite for gold in the two-woman bobsleigh event, though former track athlete – and London 2012 relay champion – Lauryn Williams will be a big threat alongside US pilot Elana Meyers.
Paula Walker and Bex Wilson go for Great Britain, but Walker faces a tough task to challenge for a podium place having admitted she has struggled to bond with the Sochi course.
Rearranged from Monday, the men’s snowboard cross event provides a second chance to enjoy the entertaining first-to-finish knockout melee that gripped Britain on Sunday, when Zoe Gillings finished ninth as the Czech Republic’s Eva Samkova won.
American contender Nick Baumgartner has promised “utter chaos and awesomeness” in the men’s racing, where Australia’s world champion Alex Pullin hopes to add the Olympic title to his honours.
Also rescheduled from yesterday will be the men’s 15km biathlon, plus there is ice hockey action and the inaugural ski halfpipe competition, featuring Britain’s Murray Buchan and James Machon.
You can access all the action from the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics across BBC TV, Red Button and radio, with up to six live streams available online, connected TVs, mobiles, tablets and the BBC Sport app.
SOTB’s TV viewing guide to Day 11 of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games below:
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DAY 11: TUESDAY 18th FEBRUARY
05:00 – 13:00 |
CURLING, SNOWBOARD, ALPINE SKIING & SHORT TRACK Presenter: Hazel Irvine |
The morning’s fare features the men’s curling tie-breaker between Norway and Great Britain and women’s giant slalom.
Kicking the action off bright and early at 5.00am at the Ice Cube will be the curling showdown between David Murdoch’s side and the Norwegians for a place in the semi-finals on Thursday.
In the women’s giant slalom, American teenager Mikaela Shiffrin will be aiming for gold, but she will be up against the likes of reigning World Cup champion and 2010 silver medallist Tina Maze of Slovenia.
It is another busy day at the Iceberg Skating Palace as Britain’s Elise Christie begins her Olympic campaign in her best event, the 1,000m.
The Scot will be looking to avoid early-round trouble and book a safe passage into the quarter-finals.
It is also the final of the women’s 3,000m team relay, where China will be looking to retain the title they won in controversial circumstances in Vancouver.
South Korea crossed the line first in a world record time but were disqualified for an infringement while jostling for the lead.
There is also men’s ice hockey action with the tournament now moving into the knock-out phase of the competition.
.| 05:00 |
CURLING – LIVE Norway v Great Britain (Men) |
| ALPINE SKIING – LIVE Women’s Giant Slalom (Run 1) |
| SNOWBOARD – LIVE Men’s Cross Finals |
| 08:00 | ICE HOCKEY – LIVE Men’s Match TBC |
| 09:00 | ALPINE SKIING – LIVE Women’s Giant Slalom (Run 2) |
| 10:00 |
SHORT TRACK – Feat. Women’s 3000m Relay Final |
| 12:00 | NORDIC COMBINED – Men’s 10km |
13:00 – 16:00 |
ICE HOCKEY & SPEED SKATING & BOBSLEIGH Presenter: Jonathan Edwards |
There is live men’s ice hockey action with the play-off round continuing in Sochi as teams battle to earn a place in the quarter-finals.
Canada are the defending champions, but hosts Russia also have a formidable squad featuring plenty of NHL talent.
The women’s bobsleigh gets under way – Paula Walker will spearhead British hopes, but the crew to beat will be Canada, who are piloted by reigning world and Olympic champion Kaillie Humphries.
There is a gold medal to be won in the men’s 10,000m speedskating.
The Netherlands have produced four out of the last six Olympic champions in this event, which is the longest of the speedskating disciplines – and with the likes of Sven Kramer and Bob De Jong in their ranks, a Dutch skater could well be standing at the top of the podium once again.
| 13:00 | ICE HOCKEY – LIVE Men’s Play-off |
| 15:00 | SPEED SKATING – Men’s 10,000m |
| 15:45 | BOBSLEIGH – Two-Woman |
16:00 – 19:00 |
FREESTYLE SKIING & BOBSLEIGH Presenter: Clare Balding |
Halfpipe skiing makes its Winter Olympic bow in Sochi as Clare Balding introduces the closing hours of day 11 in Sochi.
Canada’s Mike Riddle will be among the favourites to take the inaugural men’s gold medal as the reigning World Cup champion.
There is more coverage of the play-off round of games in the men’s ice hockey, as teams fight it out for the remaining quarter-final places.
There is action from the first day of the women’s bobsleigh, plus curling in the event of a tie-break game.
.| 16:00 |
BOBSLEIGH, CURLING & FREESTYLE SKIING |
| 17:30 | FREESTYLE SKIING – LIVE Men’s Half-Pipe Final |
| 18:30 | ICE HOCKEY |
19:00 – 20:00 |
TODAY AT THE GAMES Presenter: Clare Balding |
Clare Balding looks back on busy day of action in Sochi as she hosts highlights of day 11.
Five gold medals were decided today including the women’s alpine skiing giant slalom and the men’s ski half-pipe.
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| 06:25-07:35 | SNOWBOARD | LIVE Men’s Cross Finals |
| 09:25-11:35 | SHORT TRACK | LIVE Women’s 3000m Relay Finals |
| 12:00-13:00 | NORDIC COMBINED | LIVE 10km Cross Country |
| 13:45 | FREESTYLE SKIING | LIVE Men’s Ski Halfpipe Qualification |
| 15:25 | BOBSLEIGH | LIVE Women’s Runs 1 & 2 |
| 17:30 | FREESTYLE SKIING | LIVE Men’s Ski Halfpipe Final |
| 18:20-19:30 | ICE HOCKEY | LIVE Men’s Play-offs Qualifications |
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| 05:25-07:30 | ALPINE SKIING |
LIVE Women’s Giant Slalom Run 1 |
| 08:55 | ALPINE SKIING |
LIVE Women’s Giant Slalom Run 2 |
| 10:20-11:35 | BIATHLON | LIVE Men’s 15km Mass Start |
| 12:25 | ICE HOCKEY |
LIVE Men’s Play-offs – RUS v NOR |
| 15:05-16:00 | FIGURE SKATING | LIVE Ice Dance – Free Program |
| 17:00-19:30 | ICE HOCKEY | LIVE Men’s Play-offs Qualification |
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Alongside BBC TV’s main coverage on BBC Two, Winter Olympics fans have the chance to become their own TV directors and choose which event they want to watch at the touch of a button.
Full uninterrupted coverage of each individual session and event at the Sochi Games can be accessed in a number of ways.
Selected events can be found via the BBC’s two Red Button streams on TV – available via Freeview, Freesat, BT Vision, Sky, Virgin Media and YouView – by simply pressing the red button on your remote control (see Red Button 1/2 listings above).
All six live streams, featuring access to every Sochi 2014 event, will be made available via the BBC Sport website on all devices.
These streams can also be accessed through the BBC’s Connected Red Button service on TVs via Virgin Media TiVo and Sony Freeview Smart TVs and via the BBC Sport app for connected TVs.
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Women’s Giant Slalom – Run 1
LIVE: 5.25am-7.30am BBC Red Button 2
Women’s Giant Slalom – Run 2*LIVE: 8.55am-10.20am BBC Red Button 2
Men’s 15km Mass Start*
Rescheduled
LIVE: 10.20am-11.35am BBC Red Button 2
15:15 Women’s Heat 1
16:20 Women’s Heat 2
Paula Walker & Rebekah Wilson (GBR 1)
LIVE: 3.25pm-5.30pm BBC Red Button 1
Norway v Great BritainMen’s Tie-Breaker
Skip: David Murdoch
LIVE: 5.00am-8.00am BBC Sport Online
Men’s Ski Halfpipe Qualification Murray Buchan / James Machon
LIVE: 1.45pm-3.25pm BBC Red Button 1
Men’s Ski Halfpipe Final*
LIVE: 5.30pm-6.20pm BBC Red Button 1
Slovenia v AustriaMen’s Play-offs Qualification LIVE: 8.00am-10.30am BBC Sport Online German v Japan
Women’s Classifications 7th-8th LIVE: 8.00am-10.30am BBC Sport Online Russia v Norway
Men’s Play-offs Qualification LIVE: 12.25pm-3.05pm BBC Red Button 2 Finland v Russia
Women’s Classifications 5th-6th LIVE: 12.30pm-3.00pm BBC Sport Online Czech Republic v Slovakia
Men’s Play-offs Qualification LIVE: 5.00pm-7.30pm BBC Red Button 2 Switzerland v Latvia
Men’s Play-offs Qualification LIVE: 6.20pm-7.30pm BBC Red Button 1 CLICK HERE for full Ice Hockey match schedule
Individual Gundersen – Large Hill Ski JumpLIVE: 9.30am-10.30am BBC Sport Online Individual Gundersen – 10km Cross Country*
LIVE: 12.00pm-1.00pm BBC Red Button 1
09:30 Women’s 1000m Heats Elise Christie
10:15 Men’s 500m Heats Jack Whelbourne / Jon Eley10:54 Women’s 3000m Relay Finals* LIVE: 9.25am-11.35am BBC Red Button 1
Men’s Cross Last 8 / Quarter Finals / Semi Finals / Finals*
Rescheduled from Monday
LIVE: 6.25am-7.35am BBC Red Button 1
Men’s 10,000m*LIVE: 1.00pm-4.00pm BBC Sport Online All timings/channels listed above subject to change. *denotes event finals.
