Friday, December 27, 2019

John Keat s Line, Beauty Is Truth, Truth Beauty - 1568 Words

When it comes to media humanity and society mass consume, things that could also be considered artistic like movies, music, books, and so on, media seems to like the message that truth is†¦ solid. That truth is, in a way other things are not. That truth is concrete and that if we work and search, we will find the truth and all our questions will be answered. More ‘artsy’ art, things like paintings, poetry, sculptures, music, and such, seem to very much disagree. Truth becomes an almost illusory concept, searched for, aspired to, but never fully grasped. I believe John Keat’s line â€Å"Beauty is truth, truth beauty† echoes this notion. By linking the concept of truth with a concept that seems different to every person in existence and the†¦show more content†¦Some of the first thoughts of art, and its use or place in society, was through Plato’s presentation of Socrates in various dialogues. In such, he believed Art isn’t needed. Even more so, Art is detrimental. It has no place in the ordered society because it incites views and thoughts that aren’t philosophical or rational at all, but also because all art does is show copies of the world around us, which is itself only a copy of the Forms. We don’t see the truth around us, we don’t even see reality. Art, then, could never give us the truth because we have no earthly idea what that is. We have no sense perception of what truth is, and never can. Beauty seems to have no place in a logic oriented society either, especially as something that could inspire emotions in people, instead of letting them focus on philosophy. (Wartenberg 13) Almost 2,000 years later, David Hume asks if there are any sorts of standards we could use to decide if a work of art is good or bad. No matter what those in the past may have believed best, art stuck around and grew into an almost living thing that no one knew quite what to do with. Was it entertainment? D id it have value? How could we judge that value, when no one seems able to agree on how they feel about any specific piece in the first place? Hume saw the strange contradiction in how a majority of people could somehow agree on oneShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Poem Ode On A Grecian Urn 866 Words   |  4 PagesIn the year of 1819, John Keats, the last of the Romantic poets, was diagnosed with tuberculosis, which he contracted from attempting to nurse his brother back to heath. Alongside the knowledge that his death was surely upon him, Keats published his most distinguished works in that same year. â€Å"Ode to a Grecian Urn† was one of five Odes Keats wrote. In this poem, John Keats uses his theory of negative capability to embody his attitude towards the Grecian Urn, thus further explaining the poet’s universalRead MoreAnalysis Of John Keats1078 Words   |  5 PagesThe Different Perspective (A Discussion on messages in John Keats poems.) John Keats was a poet in the 1800’s who was way ahead of his time. Keats left his indelible mark on literature. Even though Keats lived a hard, short life, it never stopped him from writing good literature. â€Å"He had no advantages of birth, wealth or education; he lost his parents in childhood, watched one brother die of tuberculosis and the other emigrate to America. Poverty kept him from marrying the woman he loved. And heRead MoreHow Does Keats Express His Aesthetic Vision in ‘Ode on a Grecian Urn’?1542 Words   |  7 PagesHow does Keats express his aesthetic vision in ‘Ode on a Grecian Urn’? John Keats once said regarding Lord Byron that â€Å"he (Byron) describes what he sees, I describe what I imagine†. Keats is a typically Romantic poet in the way in which he uses the fluid boundaries of imagination within his poem to formulate his aesthetic vision which is projected in ‘Ode on a Grecian Urn’. Pope notes that the etymology of ‘aesthetics’ derives from the Greek meaning ‘things perceptible to the sense’ and ‘sensoryRead MoreA Classical View Of The Romantic Movement1877 Words   |  8 PagesHypothesis: John Keats’ Odes were heavily influence by Classical ideologies which related to the wider philosophy of the Romantic Movement. This essay will apply a Classical perspective to John Keats’ Odes. I will examine how John Keats was inspired by the ideologies of the Greeks and Roman mythology. John Keats based his Odes on Roman myths and Greek artefacts; he used these to explore wider themes that relate to Greek Philosophy. This essay will show how Keats related the wider philosophy of theRead More Truth in Keats Ode on a Grecian Urn and Cummings since feeling is first1808 Words   |  8 PagesTruth in Keats Ode on a Grecian Urn and Cummings since feeling is first Truth remains a mysterious essential: sought out, created, and destroyed in countless metaphysical arguments through time. Whether argued as being absolute or relative, universal or personal, no thought is perceived or conceived without an assessment of its truth. In John Keats Ode on a Grecian Urn and E.E. Cummings since feeling is first the concern is not specifically the truth of a thought, but rather, the generalRead MoreThree Texts That Describe Transcendence Is John Donne â€Å"Batter1508 Words   |  7 Pagestranscendence is John Donne â€Å"Batter My Heart† for its transcendence in the ways of perfection through religion. The knowledge-based transcendence of Shelley’s Hymn to Intellectual Beauty. And the sweet Keats idea of transcending past time through the arts. In this text, Donne character is a man who wants the Christian God to transform him. Donne narrator wants God to beat him till he’s worthy in the eyes of God figure, â€Å"You’re force to break blow burn and make me new.†(Donne line 4). Donne wantsRead MoreEssay on Ode on a Grecian Urn by John Keats1525 Words   |  7 PagesOde on a Grecian Urn by John Keats Summary In the first stanza, the speaker, standing before an ancient Grecian urn, addresses the urn, preoccupied with its depiction of pictures frozen in time. It is the still unravishd bride of quietness, the foster-child of silence and slow time. He also describes the urn as a historian, which can tell a story. He wonders about the figures on the side of the urn, and asks what legend they depict, and where they are fromRead MoreAnalysis Of To Autumn By John Keats1939 Words   |  8 PagesThe years between 1818 and 1821 mark the final stages of John Keats’ life. Those last few years were tumultuous for Keats. Family deaths, poverty, and a doomed romantic interest were things that contributed to his anxieties. However, those years also proved to be some of Keats most inspirational. It was a combination of these inspirations and anxieties that would lead to some of his greatest works. In that short period of time, he produced masterpiece after masterpiece: â€Å"The Eve of Saint Agnes†Read MoreThe Greatest Literary Ideas : John Keats1860 Words   |  8 PagesJohn Keats presented one of the greatest literary ideas, negative capability, in the most casual way possible – a few loose lines in a personal letter to his brothers in 1817: â€Å"The excellence of every art is its intensity, capable of making all disagreeable evaporate, from their being in close relationship with beauty and truth†¦I had not dispute but a disquisition with Dilke, on various subjects. Several things dovetailed in my mind, and at once it struck me what quality went to form a man of achievementRead MoreHSC English Essay - Belonging1392 Words   |  6 PagesEmily Dickinson’s poems I Died for Beauty; I had been Hungry all these Years and This is my Letter to the World, David Grossman’s reflective essay Writing in the Dark and Jason Reitman’s film Up in the Air. All three composers highlight the impracticality of humanity’s innate desire for belonging whereby those who attempt to force a sense of connection, ultimately lose a part of their nature. In I Died for Beauty, Dickinson explores the values of ‘truth’ and ‘beauty’ as a barrier in one’s quest for

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Impact Of The Atomic Bombs On Nagasaki And Hiroshima

The impact of the atomic bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima were the most destructive singular air strikes against Japan. However, fire raids conducted by Major General Curtis E. Lemay were a significant factor in the air campaign against Japan. They also inflicted more casualties to the Japanese populous and damage to Japanese infrastructure than the atomic bombs (Hanson 60). The decision and execution of these attacks by General Lemay contributed to the overall success of the pacific campaign. The changes that General Lemay made to the XXI Bomber Command created more victories for the Americans with a lower casualty rate. These victories can also be attributed to the success of air power at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels of war. Prior to General Lemay’s control of the XXI Bomber Command, Brigadier General Haywood S. Hansell Jr. was conducting high altitude bombing campaigns on Japanese infrastructure. The bombing command had a solid foundation with its safe base infrastructure, tactics, and organization of command. B-29s stationed at bases in Guam, Tinian, Saipan and Iwo Jima were being more well-constructed leading to less problems during air raids. With better aircraft, missions could have fewer issues occurring leading to higher success rates. The major setback that aircrafts were having was the weather. Because the bombers were at such high altitudes during their attacks it led to overheating of engines and other mission essential issues. ThunderstormsShow MoreRelatedHiroshima, Japan, And Japan1352 Words   |  6 PagesAnswers Who: Hiroshima, Japan and Nagasaki, Japan Leader of Japan: Hideki Tojo, Minister of war Leader of United States: General Douglas MacArthur Hiroshima Hiroshima is a city located in Honshu, Japan. On August 6, 1945, Hiroshima became the first city in the world to be struck by an atomic bomb. (Hiroshima, britannica.com) From 1868 it was a military center, and was a target for the atomic bombing by U.S. during World War II. Nagasaki Nagasaki is a city located in KyushuRead MoreThe Nuclear Bomb Of Hiroshima And Nagasaki Essay1393 Words   |  6 PagesThe nuclear bombs code named â€Å"Little Boy† and â€Å"Fat Man† were detonated over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the summer of August 1945 by the United States of America in an attempt to end World War II. The immediate death toll was extremely high with an estimated 60,000 to 80,000 people killed upon impact of the bombs due to the extreme heat, flying shrapnel, and the pressure of the blast wave. The overall death toll is now estimated to be about 192,020 dead due to long term healthRead MoreHiroshima And Nagasaki Bombing Of Hiroshima1206 Words   |  5 PagesWar Two Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombing The Bombing In 1945, the US dropped 2 atomic bombs on the cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, causing hundreds of thousands civilian deaths. Some people say that this act helped to end the world war and save more lives, but others think that it was not needed and wasn t the cause of the Japanese surrender. Sequence of Events 5th August 1945 President gives approval to use bombs 6th August 1945 Bombing of Hiroshima 9th August 1945 Bombing of Nagasaki 15th AugustRead MoreThe Day That Shook the World667 Words   |  3 PagesWhat comes to mind when you hear the word â€Å"bomb†? Is it the Boston Marathon tragedy? Is it the Pearl Harbor Bombing? How about the World Trade Center attack? All of these are major bombings that have happened in the U.S. Sadly, they aren’t the only ones. There have been numerous bombings that our world has survived, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t suffered from their outcomes. The devastation of war on our world is monumental. The atomic bombing of Hiroshima is an important event in history that hasRead MoreWas The Bombing Of Hiroshima And Nagasaki Morally Justified?1736 Words   |  7 PagesWas the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki ethically justified? – Why Truman decided to drop the atomic bombs on Japan – By Grace Kelsall World War 2 saw the emergence of America as a new world power on August 6th 1945, also internationally known as the traumatizing day for Hiroshima; after an American B-29 bomber dropped the world’s first atomic bomb. World War Two is considered a great turning point in modern history, it being one of the bloodiest and horrific wars; exposing all countries aroundRead MoreHiroshima And Nagasaki And Hiroshima1181 Words   |  5 Pages Hiroshima and Nagasaki Hiroshima and Nagasaki most known cities in Japan for the explosion of the two atomic bombs(Little Boy and Fat Man)The world changed irrevocably 70 years ago,on August 6,1945 when the United States dropped the first nuclear (bomb) weapon in the history of the civilian population of Hiroshima ,Japan.Three days later ,the second and ,to date ,final atomic weapon used against human targets was dropped on Nagasaki ,Japan.Hundred of thousands were killed.Many horrifically burnedRead MoreAtomic Bombs On Hiroshima And Nagasaki844 Words   |  4 Pagesdropped atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki killing nearly 200,000 people. This resulted in Japans surrender in World War II. J. Samuel Walker analyzes this historical event in his book Prompt and Utter Destruction: Truman and the Use of Atomic Bombs. Over the past 70 years’ extensive research has been conducted and there is an understanding that Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bombs is inconclus ive. It is impossible to determine that the use of the bomb was the quickestRead MorePersuasive Essay On The Atomic Bomb1656 Words   |  7 PagesIntroductionï’ £ In 1945, two atomic bombs were dropped over Japan on Hiroshima and Nagasaki which resulted in thousands of civilian deaths and a detrimental impact on the environment. Some people would say that the bombing was necessary to end the war, but in the same breath would say that it was inhumane. Other standpoints say that Japan was already on their way to surrender. What would the world be like if the bombs weren’t dropped; or even created? Other Optionsï’ £ When thinking of other optionsRead MoreThe Bombing Of Hiroshima And Nagasaki1720 Words   |  7 PagesPart A: Plan of Investigation To what extent did the bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan justified? The Manhattan project was the reason the bomb, ‘Little Boy’ and ‘Fat Man’ were dropped in Japan. The Manhattan project was created because America was frightened, that Germany was already creating nuclear bombs. (http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki) So, America started the project in 1949. The reason Japan became the target was because, JapanRead MoreThe Atomic Bomb Is Not A Military Necessity1210 Words   |  5 PagesAmerican generals, Leahy, Macarthur, and Eisenhower, stated the dropping of the atomic bomb â€Å"was not a military necessity.† Japan was already struggling greatly to maintain itself, and they felt that it would fall soon. Leahy even went as far as to say that a continuation of the blockade of Japan and bombings would have been enough to bring Japan to its knees. These generals acknowledged the efficienc y of the atomic bomb, but could not reconcile that efficiency to the devastating consequences. Two

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Australian Tourism and Their Future for Ecotourism - myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theAustralian Tourism and Their Future for Ecotourism. Answer: Title The change in the taste and preference of the people has given rise to the habits of consumerism and other significant practices. I order to adhere to the interests of the people and making them aware of the biodiversity surrounding them, the national parks and the wildlife reserves are being constructed. Moreover, the actions help in the conservation of the biodiversity as well. In order to keep up to the practices and the actions taken by the governments tourism is being developed in order to raise the finance for maintaining the facilities that are being provided to the wildlife[1]. The report will be aiming at the future of the ecotourism in Australia based on the availability of the wildlife reserves and the sanctuaries that forms a greater part of the economy relating to the tourism of the nation. on the other hand the issues relating to the faltering trust of the tourists on the traditional information and the emergence of the Trip Advisor and the like have seriously impacted the eco tourism of the nation. Key information The key issues that are being observed in the present day, relating to the eco tourism of the nation, is based on the faltering trust of the tourist on the traditional sources of information. The technological advancements that are being made by the world has enabled systems and procedures to change rapidly. People nowadays do not rely on the information from the sources of the government and the corporations of the nation[2]. On the other hand, Trip Advisor and the like deliver misleading information to the tourists which h create a heavy impact on the clients choice of the tourist spot. The client is trusting the ratings that are being hypothecated by the websites. Therefore, the misleading information affects the eco tourism of the nation largely. The most common of the issues that are being faced by the nation is based on the international indulgence of the tourism. The international clients expect a varied amount of services to be delivered in order to make use of the various segments. The tourism gets affected when the expected services are not being provided. It affects the rate of the tourism activities and thereby affects the availability of the financial resources for maintaining the eco tourism practices. Large amount of funds are necessary to uphold the practices. Therefore, in order to make use of the economy, the nation must formulate healthy and sufficing tourism activities[3]. The quality of the services that are being provided to the people helps in determining the success of the eco tourism in Australia. The quality of the service determines the tourist retention rate of the nation. In this relation the best services that are being provided to the tourists helps in making the probable progress in the eco tourism industry of the nation[4]. Moreover, it helps in building up the funds in order to make a sustainable journey of conserving the biodiversity of the regions through the wildlife sanctuaries and their maintenance. Financial implications The financial implications include the determination of the funding that are required in order to maintain the services that are being provided to the tourists and also make use of the wildlife sanctuaries in order to attract more tourists to the nation. The maintenance of the wildlife sanctuaries and the national parks not only helps in conserving the endangered species of the region but also makes use of the money that the tourist spends while undertaking their visit to the place[5]. The funding helps in the maintenance of the biodiversity of the place and thereby make it a tourist spot. It also helps in meeting the economic requirements of the nation. The tourism of the nation depends on the financial factors that support the very existence of the source of tourism and therefore in order to maintain the very source, proper funding is required. There are two probable concepts of economics on eco tourism. They are the economic value of the eco tourism and the economic impact[6]. The economic value is being created through the maintenance of the eco tourism, which attracts the tourists from all around the world. On the other hand, the economic impacts can be taken as the implications that the eco tourism enforces on the activities undertaken by the nation for maintaining the tourist spots. In this relation, the economy plays a very important role in creating revenue for the people and also raising funds from the investments of the tourists in order to ensure the safe maintenance of the biodiversity in the national parks and the wild life sanctuaries. The tourism also helps in bringing about a change in the standard of living of the p eople and thereby makes a significant contribution to the treasury. Recommendations In order to bring the significant changes relating to the eco tourism of the nation and thereby bring in sustenance in the process there are certain recommendations that the nation or the committee must undertake[7]. The modification of the policies and the systems helps in determining the probable changes in the tourism and thereby helps in making the work more simple and brief. Based on the requirements of the eco tourism industry the following recommendations can be adhered: Modifying the websites Modifying the websites that provides the tourists with the information on the systems of the tourism is an important consideration that must be taken by the government or the people looking after the sanctuaries[8]. The information plays a very important role in making the tourist aware of the services available in the area. Tourism is a vast and growing industry which includes many factors. Therefore, in order to maintain the tourism all the authorities must consider the factors and design steps for improving the information access of the tourist. Improving the Quality of services The quality of the services that are being provided by the authorities is again an important step that must be taken by the tourism industry in order to maintain and retain the client relations. It helps in maintaining a stable growth of the economy. The services that are being provided to the people helps in determining the tourism that the nation undertakes[9]. The globalization has led to newer concept, which enabled people to visit the best tourism destinations. The quality of the services that are being provided, helps in retaining the tourists largely and thereby it affects the funds that the nation aims at raising for the maintenance of the resources. Title The main objective of the reports is to demonstrate the importance of the industry and the issues that are being faced by the eco tourism in Australia. it helps in understanding the different aspects in which the issues can be addressed and the problems can be solved. the tourism helps in raising the funds and therefore is an important consideration that must be taken by the authorities in order to make a gradual progress in the methodology of the eco tourism. The conservation of the biodiversity is dependents on making the most out of the sanctuaries and thereby improves the economy of the nation[10]. Rationale The benefits for undertaking the recommendations that are being enumerated in the previous section of the report is based on the retention of the tourists through improvising the services that are being provided bu the authorities and the facilities that the tourists are entitled with. Moreover, the retention rate of the tourists helps in improving the retention rate of the tourists. It helps in improving the economic condition of the people and maintains the sanctuaries that are the source of income for the people. The funds also contribute to the treasury of the nation and therefore it helps in improving the standard of living of the nation[11]. On the other hand, the improvements and the modifications made in the information systems helps the people in achieving the correct information from the reliable sources. The dependence of the people on the information that is being provided largely affects the tourism industry of the nation. in most of the cases the information affects the tourism based on the rating s of the services that are being provided by the external websites hypothetically. The ratings affect the mentality of then people as they suppose that the tourism might be just a waste of resources, as they do not expect quality in the services that are being provided. Therefore, the right kind of information helps in making the tourists understand of the probable facilities that the tourist might be attaining through their visit[12]. Consultation The steps that are being undertaken by the units is based on the modification that are being undertaken by the units in order to promote tourism. The most important consideration that is being undertaken by the authorities is based on the requirements of the industry adhering to the valid recommendations that are being formulated[13]. In order to take the steps, the authorities and the governing bodies have formulated teams to administer over the services that are being provided to the tourists for the better understanding of their priorities. References Spenceley, A. ed., 2012.Responsible tourism: Critical issues for conservation and development. Routledge. Newsome, D., Moore, S.A. and Dowling, R.K., 2012.Natural area tourism: Ecology, impacts and management(Vol. 58). Channel view publications. Whitelaw, P.A., King, B.E. and Tolkach, D., 2014. Protected areas, conservation and tourismfinancing the sustainable dream.Journal of Sustainable Tourism,22(4), pp.584-603. Mason, P., 2015.Tourism impacts, planning and management. Routledge. Zahra, A. and McGehee, N.G., 2013. Volunteer tourism: A host community capital perspective.Annals of Tourism Research,42, pp.22-45. Andersson, T.D. and Lundberg, E., 2013. Commensurability and sustainability: Triple impact assessments of a tourism event.Tourism Management,37, pp.99-109. Hein, L., Miller, D.C. and de Groot, R., 2013. Payments for ecosystem services and the financing of global biodiversity conservation.Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability,5(1), pp.87-93. Chen, W.Y. and Jim, C.Y., 2012. Contingent valuation of ecotourism development in country parks in the urban shadow.International Journal of Sustainable Development World Ecology,19(1), pp.44-53. Janusz, G.K. and Bajdor, P., 2013. Towards to sustainable tourismframework, activities and dimensions.Procedia economics and finance,6, pp.523-529. Lanfranchi, M., Giannetto, C. and De Pascale, A., 2014. Nature based tourism: Natural balance, impacts and management.Calitatea,15(S1), p.224. McKercher, B. and Prideaux, B., 2014. Academic myths of tourism.Annals of Tourism Research,46, pp.16-28. Prudhomme, B. and Raymond, L., 2013. Sustainable development practices in the hospitality industry: An empirical study of their impact on customer satisfaction and intentions.International Journal of Hospitality Management,34, pp.116-126. Garay, L. and Font, X., 2012. Doing good to do well? Corporate social responsibility reasons, practices and impacts in small and medium accommodation enterprises.International Journal of Hospitality Management,31(2), pp.329-337. Fairhead, J., Leach, M. and Scoones, I., 2012. Green Grabbing: a new appropriation of nature?.Journal of Peasant Studies,39(2), pp.237-261.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Winter Sports free essay sample

The Individual competition is a classical style biathlon race covering 20 km for men and 15 km for women, with 4 shooting lanes. Biathletes start at intervals of either 30 seconds or one minute with each competitor choosing his (her) own shooting lane. The first and third shooting stages are taken from the prone position, while the second and fourth are fired standing. Biathletes are penalized one minute for each missed target. The Sprint is an abbreviated version of the Individual competition and one in which speed is a key factor. Men race 10 km, and women 7. km, each with two shooting rounds one prone and one standing. For every missed target, a competitor must complete a 150-meter penalty loop. In the Pursuit competition, athletes start in a staggered fashion depending on their time in the sprint race. Men ski 12. 5 km and women 10 km. Each covers four shooting stages—the first two are taken prone and the second two from a standing position. We will write a custom essay sample on Winter Sports or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page As with the Sprint competition, athletes ski a 150-meter penalty loop for each miss. The Mass Start competition is one of the newest biathlon formats. It covers a distance of 15 km for men and 12. km for women, with four shooting stages, the first two prone and second two standing. In each race, the 30 highest ranked athletes start together simultaneously and take their place at the first shooting stage depending on their starting number. Athletes line up at the remaining shooting stages depending on the order in which they arrived at the firing line. A 150-meter penalty loop is added for each miss. The Relay consists of four-person national teams covering distances of 7. 5 km for men and 6 km for women. Each leg of the race includes two shooting stages, one prone and one standing. As opposed to the individual disciplines, biathletes in the relay have 8 rounds of ammunition for each firing range – five stored in the magazine and three extra rounds that can be loaded by hand, if necessary. Once all 8 rounds have been fired, the athlete must ski a 150-meter penalty loop for each missed target. Sports Equipment * Any form of ski techniques is permitted in the biathlon. However, only skis and ski poles may be used. * Ski boots, providing support and controlling motion. * Ski poles made of composite materials such as carbon-fibre. Their length cannot exceed the height of the athlete using them. The biathlon rifle is a 5. 6 mm calibre weapon that is carried on the athlete’s back in a special harness with the barrel pointed up. * A one-piece special ski suit helps maintain a constant body temperature and minimizes wind resistance. * Skis cannot be shorter than 4 cm less than an athlete’s height. To increase glide, various special waxes are applied to the skis. 2. 2 Skeleton as it is Skeleton is the discipline where competitors aim to drive a one-person sled in a prone, head-first position down an ice track in the fastest time. Olympic skeleton events consist of four runs timed electronically to 0. 01 seconds. The four runs are contested over two days and the final standings are determined by the aggregate time of the four runs. If athletes complete the competition in a tie, they receive the same award. Skeleton consists of two events in the Olympic program — individual men and individual women. Equipment * The sled is made of two runners. The frame must be constructed of steel. The same sled must be used in all rounds of the competition. It must weigh no more than 43kg for men and 35kg for women. * Gloves are made of leather and are worn for protection. * Handles are used for the start push and during the race. They must be covered with soft material. All competitors must wear helmets, which are hard plastic and equipped with a chin guard and visor. The racing suit is a tight-fitting bodysuit made of elastic fabric that may have padding sewn into the elbows. * Shoes are made of synthetic material and have spikes on the soles for traction during the push start.   3. Curling as it is Curling is a sport game played between two teams composed of four players each. The game is played on ice, and members of both teams deliver a 19. 96 kg stone towards a circular target area, cal led the house alternating with an opponent. The objective is to get the stone closer to the Center of the circles than any stone of the opposition. One game consists of ten â€Å"ends†. During each end, each team steers eight stones — two stones per person, alternating with the opponent. Team members deliver the stones in a set order presented to officials before the game. The first player is known as the lead. He/she is followed by the second, then the third (also known as the vice-skip) and finally the skip, or team leader. After all 16 stones have been delivered the score is determined. Only one team can score per end. A team scores one point for each of its own stones located in or touching the house that is closer to the center of the house than any of the oppositions stones. The team with the most points after 10 ends is the winner. If the score is tied after the 10th end, an â€Å"extra-end† period is added. Extra ends are played until one side wins. There are two medal events in curling: men’s and women’s team competition. Sports Equipment * A broom is used to sweep the ice surface in front of the stone. Sweeping creates a film of water between the stone and the ice, which reduces friction, thereby reducing the stones deceleration and straightening its trajectory or â€Å"curl†. Curling brooms can have fabric, hog hair, or horsehair heads. There are also corn/straw brooms, although they are used rarely nowadays. * Special curling shoes have different soles. One has an extremely slippery sole made from Teflon, plastic or steel and is used on the sliding foot. The other is made from rubber and provides much-needed traction on the ice. * A curling stone is traditionally made in Scotland of rare, dense granite. Each stone weighs 19. 96 kg, is polished and is circular in shape. * Each playing surface is 45. 72 m long and not more than 5 m wide, with a target — or house — at either end. Ice Hockey as it it Ice hockey is played on a large flat area of ice, using a three inch (76. 2 mm) diameter vulcanized rubber disc called a puck. This puck is likely to be frozen for high-level matches to decrease the amount of bouncing and friction on the ice surface. The game is contested between two teams of skaters. A team must have no more than six players on the ice while the game is in progress. As a rule, these players are: one goalkeeper, two defensemen, three forwards (two wings and one centre). There can be fewer players on the ice as a result of penalties incurred. Also, a goalkeeper can be replaced by a skater during a penalty or at any other time of the game. A regular ice hockey game consists of three periods of 20-minutes each, with a 15-minute intermission after the first and second period. There are Olympic competitions for men and women. Equipment * Equipment includes: a helmet, shoulder pads, elbow pads, mouth guard, protective gloves, heavily padded shorts, athletic cup/jock strap, shin pads and a neck protector. * Goalkeepers’ equipment includes: a helmet, catcher and blocker gloves, neck guard, chest protector, athletic cup/jock strap, heavily padded shorts and leg pads. The puck is made of vulcanized rubber, must be approved by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IHF) and must be primarily black in color. * Sticks are made of wood or other material, such as aluminium or plastic. Luge as it is Luge is considered as one of the most dangerous Olympic winter sports. Luge involves sliding at high speeds on single- or two-person sleds. The run takes place on a specially built track. The athlete starts in a seating position and after pushing off lies supine and feet-first. The sled is steered by changing the luger’s center of gravity. The winner of the competition is the rider with the fastest time. During a run, the sled can reach speeds of over 140 km/h. There are three classes of Olympic competition: singles men, singles women and doubles. Men and women compete on the same track, but women’s and doubles’ starting line is further down the course than men’s. In male and female singles, athletes take four runs down the track. The four times are added, and the fastest total time determines the winner. The competition takes two days to complete (two runs per day). Doubles luge is a one-day competition in which pairs of athletes take two runs down the track. The fastest total time determines the winner. There is no written rule that says a team must comprise members of the same sex, but men traditionally ride together. Three sets of medals are awarded for each event. Sports Equipment * Lugers wear specially designed race suits to reduce wind resistance. Luge gloves are spiked at the fingertips to assist riders as they accelerate at the start. * Riders wear helmets with clear or tinted visors that extend under the chin to reduce wind resistance. * Riders wear special shoes that typically have firm, smooth outer soles. 6. 1 Figure Skating as it is Figure skating in the Olympic Games includes both mens and womens individual events, pairs mixed, and ice dancing mixed. At the present time, four sets of medals are contested in the Olympic figure skating program. Individual mens and womens figure skating comprises a short program that includes seven compulsory moves, and a free skate program. A well-balanced free program should include jumps, spins, and steps. Likewise, pairs mixed skaters first perform a short program (7 moves) and then a free skate program. Compulsory moves include lifts, spirals, throws and synchronized jumps. One of the most significant criteria in the judging of programs is the degree to which a pairs movements mirror one another. Ice Dancing is the only discipline that allows the use of music with vocals. Dancers much adhere closely to the rhythm of the music and express the character of the music with appropriate emotion and feeling. Until the 2010-2011 season, ice dancing comprised three performances: A compulsory dance (in which the performance closely follows a prescribed set of steps set to a piece of music with a particular character and musical rhythm); An original dance, carried out in keeping with guidelines provided by the International Skating Union; And a free skate dance, the theme and music of which is left to the skaters choice, although the choreography of the dances should include a specific set of elements. At present, ice dancing competitions, like those of other forms of figure skating, consist of two programs. The short program combines a compulsory dance—consisting of one or two parts—and certain prescribed elements. The theme and rhythm of the musical accompaniment is determined each season by the ISU, while the length of this dance—currently 2 minutes and 50 seconds—is similar to requirements of other forms of figure skating. The free dance has not undergone significant changes over the years and the basis of its scoring remains the quality of the compulsory elements in close dancing positions, the unison the skaters display and their ability to express the character of the musical selection. Sports Equipment Figure skaters use the following athletic equipment: * Custom-made boots made of thick, stiff leather, with extra laces and wide tongues, which provide the ankle with both flexibility and support. * High strength carbon-steel blades with concave grooves along their entire length and teeth in the toe of the blade to allow for pushing off when performing certain types of jumps. * A suit made of stretchable material that does not restrict the skater’s range of motion. The outfit should correspond to the character of the musical selection and reflect the artistic idea of the program. A standard skating rink is 30 by 60 meters in size, with plastic or sliding boards. Figure skaters need the highest quality ice, which is possible with the aid of ice resurfacers. The thickness of the ice over its entire surface cannot vary by over 0. 5 cm. 6. 2 Short Track as it is Short track speed skating is a type of speed skating where the athletes compete on a 111. 12 m oval. At the Olympic Winter Games, Short Track Speed Skating consists of eight medal events. Men and women compete in 500m, 1000m, and 1500m races. There is a 5000m relay for men, and a 3000m relay for women. Short track speed skating is an elimination event in which skaters race in packs and try to outskate and outwit fellow competitors within their heats. The first skater to cross the finish line is the winner, regardless of time Individual competitions begin with 32 skaters and feature heats of four athletes at a time. The first two skaters in each heat to cross the finish line continue on to the next round until only 4 athletes are left to vie for medals. The men’s and women’s relays are two-day competitions consisting of a semi-final and a final. Eight teams of 4 athletes are divided into two heats of four. Every team agrees on the number of laps each athlete should skate. The only exception is the last 2 laps that are covered by the same skater. The top two teams in each semi-final advance to the final. Sports Equipment * The short track blades are very sharp and measure 40-46cm lengthwise. Short track boots lace higher up the ankle than traditional skates and are constructed from customized foot moulds and with heavier materials to help stabilize the foot and ankle around the corners. * Gloves are worn to protect skaters’ hands from blades. * Hard plastic helmets prevent potential head injuries resulting from crashes with competitors, the ice or side walls. * Skin-tight suits mould to the skater’s body to reduce wind resistance. Knee, shin, and sometimes neck guards offer protection from the blades of the skater in front. Speed Skating as it is In speed skating, athletes travel around a 400 m oval rink as fast as possible. Speed skating at the Olympic Games consists of ten individual events: 500m, 1000m, 1500m, 5000m for both men and women, women’s 3000m, men’s 10,000m and Team pursuit for men an d women. Thus 12 sets of Olympic medals are awarded in speed skating. In each event, skaters race in pairs using inner and outer lanes on a standard 400m oval. Athletes change the lanes at every lap to skate the equal distance. All events are skated once, with the exception of the men’s and women’s 500 meters, which are skated twice. The final result is based on the total time taken over the two races. In a team pursuit, men skate 8 laps and women–6. 2 teams composed of 3 skaters participate in each heat, with teams starting from opposite sides of the oval at the same time. Each skater in a team becomes a leader of the group taking all air resistance while his partners skate behind him. The race comes to an end only when the last skater on a team crosses the finish line. Sports Equipment * Skaters use special â€Å"clap skates† whose blade isn’t attached to the boot. These boots are usually made of kangaroo leather. * Skaters wear skin-tight racing suits with hoods to reduce air resistance. 6. . 1 Alpine Skiing as it is The Olympic Alpine competition consists of five events each for women and men. These include Downhill, Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super Giant, and Super Combined. The rules are the same for men and women, but the courses differ. Ten sets of medals altogether are awarded. The downhill (DH) features the longest course and the highest speeds in Alpine skiing (120 km/h). Each skier makes a single run down a course one after another and the fastest time determines the winner. The slalom (SL) is an alpine skiing discipline that involves skiing between poles (or â€Å"gates†) spaced much closer together than in Giant Slalom, Super-G or Downhill, resulting in quicker and shorter turns. Slalom is a two-run event; the skier with the fastest combined adjusted time for the two runs wins. Giant slalom (GS) involves skiing between sets of gates spaced at a greater distance from each other than in slalom but not as great as in Super-G. The number of gates in this event ranges from 56 to 70 for men and 46 to 58 for women. The final result is based on the total time taken over the two different runs. The Super giant slalom (Super-G) incorporates aspects of both downhill and giant slalom racing. It involves skiing between widely spaced gates as in Giant Slalom, but with fewer turns over a longer course and with higher speeds approaching those achieved in Downhill. The Super Combined event includes one Downhill or Super-G run and one Slalom run on a single day. Sports Equipment * Reinforced plastic boots are specific to the competition discipline. Bindings are the link between the boots and the skis. Gloves are made of leather or synthetic material * Ski goggles protect the eyes against weather, glare and the effects of speed on the eyes. * A tight-fitting helmet is designed to protect a skier’s head from injuries. * In the downhill and Super-G, poles are curved to fit around the body to reduce air resistance. Skis are made of various materials (wood, composite fibers) specially adapted to the wear and tear they undergo during a race. Skis in downhill are 30% longer than those used in slalom in order to provide added stability at high speeds. * Skin-tight racing suits are made of materials that minimize air resistance. 2 Cross-Country Skiing as it is At the Olympic Winter Games, the cross-country skiing discipline comprises twelve differ ent events. They include sprint, team sprint, individual start, pursuit, mass start and relay events. The Individual Interval Start Race is the traditional race format, where skiers compete against the clock. The skiers start the race at 30-second intervals in reverse order to their season ranking. This means that the top ranked skier will start last. The winner of the race is the skier with the fastest time. Coaches along the course time their athletes, calling out their rank at specific points of the race. Racers who are overtaken by faster competitors must step aside if ecessary to allow the faster skier to pass. In the Olympic Individual Interval Start Race, men compete over a distance of 15km (in loops of 5km) while women race a ski 10km (in loops of 5km). The Sprint Competition will, after a qualifying round (in individual interval start format), consist of 30 skiers competing in elimination heats. In the elimination heats (quarterfinals and semifinals) the skiers start side by side and ra ce one time around a 1. 3 1. 6km loop. The two fastest skiers in each heat advance to the next round. For the 6th positions in the semi-final heats and for the 5 and 6th positions in the final heat, the next two fastest competitors who are ranked 3rd or 4th (called â€Å"lucky losers†) will advance. Six skiers compete in the medal round for the Olympic medals. The team sprint competition consists of teams of two skiers skiing one at a time, tagging their teammate upon completing a 1. 5 km leg. The two skiers alternate skiing one leg each, for a total of 6 legs (3 legs each). 10 teams qualify for the finals through qualification heats, and start in a modified (arrow shape format) mass start on the first leg. In this race, there are often rapid lead changes and high speed. The Pursuit race is an exciting mass start race where skiers ski the first half of the race using the classic technique (and the necessary equipment), then switch to the free technique (in the stadium) before completing the competition. The clock is running during the equipment exchange, similar to a â€Å"pit stop† in car racing. The first skier to cross the finish line is the Pursuit winner. The skiers are required to change skis at the halfway point, and frequently also change poles. In the Pursuit race, men race 15 km (in loops of 3. 5 km) using each technique (for a total distance of 30km), while women race 7. 5km (in loops of 2. 5 km) for a total distance of 15km. The competition course is usually laid out in such a way that the skiers pass through the stadium several times. Individual Mass Start Races are the longest individual Cross Country races at the Olympic Winter Games. In the Individual Mass Start R aces, men race over a distance of 50km, while women ski a distance of 30km. The long-distance mass start events will line the whole field of skiers in rows of 7 – 11, starting a field of 60 to 80 skiers by a start gun. This particular format can be compared to bicycle racing, where large groups of athletes use strategy and tactics to gain an advantage during the course of the race, and then demonstrate their sprinting abilities at the finish. The employment of short loops allows spectators in the stadium to see the contestants every 10-12 minutes. The first skier to finish is the winner, although it is not unusual to have up to 10 athletes vying for the victory in a photo finish. The Relay format features teams of four skiers from each competing country. The two first skiers on each team must use the classic technique while the last two must use the free technique (usually skiing a different course). Skiers take turns competing, and tag their teammate in an exchange zone at the end of leg of the relay race. The team that completes all four legs of the race first is the winner. In the Relays, men race four 10-km legs each, while women race four 5-km legs. Sports Equipment * Cross-country boots for classic technique are similar in design to running shoes. The boots for free technique are more rigid and have more ankle support than the boots used for classic technique. The bindings secure only the toe of the boot to the ski. * For classic technique, the poles should extend to a standing skier’s armpit. For free technique, the poles are generally longer and stiffer and extend to the chin or mouth of the skier. They are usually made of graphite or fiberglass. * The skis are long and thin, to distribute the weight of the skier and allow the skier to move quickly. Depending on the ski design and purpose, they are customized to fit the skier. * The wax can be of two types: glide wax and kick wax, also known as grip wax. Glide waxes are used to make a ski glide faster. Kick waxes are used to provide a grip on snow when weight is transferred to a ski; they are used in classic technique only. * The suit is made from stretch fabric (lycra) that hugs the body and considerably reduces wind resistance when racing. Nordic Combined as it is Nordic Combined events include a ski jumping competition (1 jump) and a 10 km cross-country skiing race. There are three events in the Olympic program in Nordic Combined: Individual men Normal Hill (HS 105), Team men Large Hill 4 x 5 km and Individual men Large Hill (HS 140). HS stands for Hill Size and refers to the longest safe distance flown by the best athletes on a given hill. The individual events are also known as the Individual Gundersen and encompass one competition jump on either a HS 105 or HS 140 ski jumping hill and a 10 km cross-country ski race. Points are scored for distance and style in ski jumping. The racers with most ski jumping points will start first in the cross-country portion, followed by the next best jumper after a gap which reflects the difference in their jumping scores and so on. This means that the first cross-country skier to cross the finish line is also the winner of the event. This method of competition, also known as the Gundersen method, was introduced in the mid 1980s. The team event is similar to the individual event, but contested by teams of four athletes. Each takes one jump on a HS 140 m hill, with all the jumps counting towards the team total. A difference of forty-five points translates to a one minute advantage in the second event, the 4 x 5 km cross-country relay. As with the Individual events, the Gundersen method is used to determine starting times in the relay. The winner is the team whose final skier crosses the finish line first. Sports Equipment Special boots with high instep allowing skiers to lean forward during flight. * The binding must be mounted parallel to the run-direction. The binding must be placed in such a way that a maximum 57% of the entire ski length is used as the front part. A connection cord that is a part of the binding attaches the ski to the boot and prevents the wobbling of skis during flight. All portions of the ski jumping suit must be made of the same material and must offer certain degree of breathability. Special jumping skis can be up to a maximum length of 146% of the total height of the competitor. Cross-country ski equipment * The rear of the boot is built up to shore up the ankle, which is constantly under pressure in the free technique. * Skis are narrower and lighter than those used in Alpine skiing. They have long, curved ends and rise up slightly in the middle. They can be up to 2 m long. * Bindings secure only the toe of the boot to the ski. * Ski poles are long and straight, often reaching up as high as a competitors chin. * The suit is made from body hugging stretch fabric. * Glide wax is chosen depending on snow and weather conditions. 8. Ski Jumping as it is To date, only men can compete in ski jumping at the Olympic Games. Women’s World Championships have been held since 2009— currently the highest level event for women. Three mens ski jumping events are held at the Olympics: Individual Normal Hill, Individual Large Hill and the Team Event. 3 sets of Olympic medals are awarded in ski jumping. Individual Normal Hill is the only ski jumping event on HS 105m hill (K-95). The longest distance reached is around 105m. There are two jumps (the first round open to 50 who qualified on the day before and the final round limited to the top 30 after the first round). The athlete with the highest total score is declared the winner. Individual Large Hill is contested on HS 140 m hill (K-125). The best jumpers land at around 140 meters. There are two jumps: the first round, open to 50 who qualified on the day before; and the final round, limited to the top 30 after the first round. The athlete with the highest total score is declared the winner. The Team Event runs on HS 140 m hill (K-125). There are four members in each team, and there are two jumps (a first and a final round). All teams start in the first round. In the final round the field is reduced to the eight best teams. The team with the highest total score over the eight jumps is declared the winner. Sports Equipment * Special boots with high instep allowing skiers to lean forward during flight. * The binding must be mounted parallel to the run-direction. The binding must be placed in such a way that a maximum 57% of the entire ski length is used as the front part. * A connection cord that is a part of the binding attaches the ski to the boot and prevents the wobbling of skis during flight. * All portions of the suit must be made of the same material and must offer sufficient breathability. Special jumping skis can be up to a maximum length of 146% of the total height of the competitor. Freestyle as it is There are three events for men and women in the Olympic Freestyle program: moguls, aerials and ski cross. 6 sets of medals are awarded for freestyle events. In Mogul, skiers race down a course over a series of bumps or moguls. Each athlete is required to perform two tricks and jumps. The Olympic format includes a one-run elimination round followed by a one-run final of 16 to 20 skiers. Competitors receiving the highest score for their tricks and jumps in the final round are declared winners. Scores are determined by judges who evaluate the quality of a skier’s tricks, and the quality and difficulty of the jumps. Judges also give points for speed according to a special formula. The Olympic aerial competition consists of a two-jump qualifying stage followed by a two-jump final. The combined scores from the two jumps determine 12 athletes qualified for the final. Scores from the qualification round are not counted in the finals. Competitors are judged on jump takeoff (20%), jump form (50%) and landing (30%). Ski cross consists of several rounds of competition. In the qualifying stage, athletes race down a course approximately 1000 meters long with turns and obstacles. 2 athletes with the best times are then divided into groups of four and compete to determine who proceeds to the next round of competition. The top two competitors in each group then move on to the medal round. Sports Equipment * The standard length of mogul skis is typically 180cm for men and 170cm for women. For aerials, the standard ski length for both men and women is 160cm. Ski cross skis are similar to those used in the Supe r Giant Slalom. * Ski poles are used to aid the skier in accelerating, turning and maintaining balance. In moguls the color of knee pads often contrasts with that of a ski suit in order to draw the judges’ attention to the skier’s expertise. * Ski boots should provide sufficient support to allow an athlete to withstand the force of impact. * The helmet is made of hard plastic, protecting the head and preventing serious head injuries in both aerials and moguls. Snowboard as it is There are six snowboard events in the program of the Olympic Winter Games: mens half-pipe, women’s half-pipe, mens parallel giant slalom and women’s parallel giant slalom, mens Boarder-cross and women’s Boarder-cross. sets of medal are awarded altogether. The half-pipe competition takes place in a bowl-shaped course dug deep into the hill. Using speed gained on the slope, snowboarders come up over the rim of the pipe and perform acrobatic aerial tricks. The object of the half-pipe is to perform difficult tricks with perfect form. The parallel giant slalom features head-to-head matches on the mountain. After the qualification round, a 16-person tournament is established and athletes compete under the knock-out system on two side-by-side courses until there is a winner. The Boarder-cross event is held on a challenging route including jumps, bumps, berms and other obstacles. The heats consist of four riders who start at the same time, with the best two in the finish proceeding to the next round (where the athlete with the best time in the previous round goes first). Finally, the four fastest snowboarders make the final and compete for medals. Sports Equipment * A specially designed flexible board for half-pipe is essential for balance and tricks. * The Alpine board is stiff and narrow, which is ideal for turns and high speed. The Boarder-cross board is designed to allow high speed, combined with a maximum of tolerance and flexibility to avoid mistakes in the jumps and obstacles. * Snowboard footwear is usually soft boots, while boots for alpine snowboarding are firmer. * A hard plastic helmet is compulsory for all snowboard competitors.