Everything You Need to Know About the Winter Olympics

In Russia, Sochi may have been a work in progress mere days before today's opening ceremony, but the Winter Olympic Games have officially kicked off with all the usual excitement. As the Games continue and athletes start to compete, we're keeping you up to date with everything you need to know about this year's Olympics. We have a rundown of the best storylines, when to watch the biggest events, how to follow the top athletes on social media, and more. Here's your guide to impressing your friends, family, and co-workers with your Olympics knowledge this year.

  • Like opening ceremonies past, this year's Olympics kickoff brought some absolutely stunning moments with fireworks, dancers, and all kinds of performances. To see it all for yourself, tune in to NBC when it broadcasts the event on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. EST.
  • Of course, it's hard to avoid a minor hiccup here and there with such a big event. This year's oops moments? A little snowflake malfunction and an Austrian athlete's tumble.
  • Also capturing attention during the opening ceremony were some of the teams' elaborate uniforms, and we couldn't help but notice that the escorts looked like The Hunger Games characters in their ensembles.
  • Want an inside look at the Games? These Instagram snaps from Sochi give a cool, behind-the-scenes glimpse of what's going on at the Olympics.

  • You'll be hearing a lot about the host city. Sochi is a resort city that sits on the Black Sea. Sports venues are set up in two different areas of the city, and in total, it's costing about $50 billion to host the Games there. That's four times the 2007 estimate by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The 2010 Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, only cost $7 billion.
  • So are the Olympics safe? Russian authorities are combing areas in and around Sochi looking for potential "black widows," suicide bombers named after the deadly spiders. This breed of terrorist is made up of women who are avenging the deaths of their husbands, sons, or brothers who have been killed by Russian security forces. Russia says it has the situation well under control, but some US athletes are asking their families to stay home.
  • If you're all about social media, then go ahead and follow all these Olympians on Instagram. And you'll want to download these essential apps for the Games, too.
  • NBC is airing most high-level events live this year and then repackaging them for primetime. Set your DVRs now for this: ladies' short-program figure skating on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 11:10 a.m. EST and men's USA vs. Russia ice hockey on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 7:30 a.m. EST.
  • If you're planning a viewing party, here are some sporty home goods that capture the Olympic spirit as well as patriotic pieces that are actually pretty cute.
  • Once again, Ralph Lauren designed the Team USA uniforms. They have an awesome, not-so-ugly Christmas-sweater vibe going on.

Photo courtesy of Ralph Lauren

  • A Jamaican bobsled team is happening again, after the team raised money on a crowd-funding site. Feel the rhythm. Feel the rhyme! Get on up — it's bobsled time! Coooool runnings!
  • Olympian and virginity advocate Lolo Jones will be going from the 2012 Summer Games to the 2014 Winter Games. The hurdler, who placed fourth in London, made the USA bobsled team.