Day 3, Part 3 Winter Olympics

The simple beauty of some up on the waters of the Scottish loch. And

when winter turns water to frosted glass... Beauty comes with a

soundtrack of silence. Born of the silence, is ice, the

sport, a harsh broken by the rumble of granite. Like a child of the

world the warring sport was heard and then slid away. Half a century

in the Olympic wilderness... But it returned with its soundtrack of

silence, the soft ground of granite, the sweeping frenzy of the

slaves to the stone and the crack of precision. Curling, the sport of

silence beautifully broken. Welcome back. It is curling day as

you can imagine from that video. The men and women have been in action

and both have medal hopes. It is getting busier in the park and this

seems to be a Russian gymnastics team. The men started with a victory

against Russia but there was disappointment for Eve Muirhead and

their team as they lost to the Swedish team who are main rival for

a medal. The men are back in action at 3pm and we will be live for that.

That is not all that is coming up in the next three hours.

We have got the ice hockey. The reigning world 's champions, the US,

take on Switzerland. There is drama in the mountains with the men's

moguls qualifying. We are back in the speed skating arena perhaps for

more Dutch glory, this time in the 500 metres. We have got GB the

Sweden again, it is live curling, this time it is the men.

Eve Muirhead and her team lost. One of their big rivals if they get to

the final stages will be Canada and we can catch up with that match now.

The line is good. It is a beautiful shot. Very well done. Perfect.

The first stone for the skip of team China. Looking to score here in end

three. She is encouraging them here. It is very light. It is not close.

Has the momentum changed in this end. It was looking like assured use

a moment ago. The danger here for Jones is that if she does come in at

eight and does not leave it buried she will leave a double for Wang

Forum deuce. Absolutely. She needs to cover the corner.

This also is not how very. Can they carry it into the eight foot. , no.

The line is good. They are forcing her out to a new path so she can go

wider to get a single. Would you say most men teams would

play that double? I think so. They are going for a single point

here on end three. She was short on her last draw. They had to go for a

line here a little. They lost that Stone, did not sweep it for most of

the way down. It is a steal. An end that had so much promise for team

China falls apart to late. Liu Yin is a bronze medallist from

Vancouver. Part of a fully funded professional curling rink. Yes, many

people have had that discussion, how has the rest of the world of curling

improves so much and it is because many countries have gone to making a

team or to their professional team, representative of their country for

several years where they travel and trade full-time. It is their job to

curl and they do it for about ten months a year.

It is go time here for Wang Bingyu. The problem for her is that she

cannot get rid of that stone. The back one can go, the one on the

T-line but what does she need to do? She is going to have two plates

quietly. She just wants to move her red stone into this position, tried

to tap, freeze or even move the yellow stone back perhaps. Keep her

shooter in line. It is a tricky shot.

A big shot if you want to steal here. She has to wait for the line.

She has thrown that extra weight and now she has to wait for it to curl

across the centre line. A chance out of life three for Jones. She has hit

the one on the centre line first. I think the key here for Jennifer

Jones is to not overthrow it. You need to have solid weight that there

is no need to really fire down there. Write down the centre line

goes. Nice. A great shot. Perfect. Well done. Huge trouble now for

China. Jennifer through that very well, very straight and did not try

to overthrow it, she was very accurate. Where now is the damage

limiting placement for China? Right now you are looking at three, with

Canada having the last rock in my opinion all she can do is make a

double and give up too, day down for into the break. Another strong end

for team Canada. This is going to jam I think. A draw for three for

Canada. It is a great start. These games are normally a lot closer than

this. These teams have played 13 times in the last little bit and

Jennifer Jones has the edge but it is seven and six only. Jennifer

Jones in her routine. She has had great control of the draw weight so

far. No reason to think she will not put this right on the button.

The girls are working on this one. It needs a full 12 foot to get that

third point. I like the way they are carrying it. Write to the button.

What a start. What a first half of this game for Jennifer Jones 's team

Canada. Kaitlyn Lawes is trying to come

around this corner and get a first or second shot. I am not sure if

Canada is lying two at the moment because of that line that rolled

into the corner. They need to keep this in front of the T-line. It just

stops in time. Wang Bingyu is looking for any sort

of spark here to get back in this. She has struggled with draw weight

and she is looking for a big one right now. Her rocks are curling a

lot more than Jennifer Jones. She is not getting good read on the ice.

There is a good example of that here. Got a redirection. But that

curled a good foot more than Kaitlyn Lawes drop-dead. -- drop did.

Is that all release? A little bit of release and how she throws the

stone. Completely into the 8-foot circle.

It is over curling. They may have moved it far enough. They did. They

got second shot. It is perfect. This is where you thank your sweepers.

This is where all the hard-working the off-season pays off, fitness is

a key component of the lead curling teams these days.

Trying to play some sort of tap here. They want to put some pressure

on Canada. Things are just not come together for team China today. This

will be a draw for three. It appears. Look at the weight she had

here, that is easily to the back four and nowhere near close to what

she was hoping for. Just not a day. No, they are just not playing like

they can. But it is a long Round Robin and she will make some noise.

Here is Jennifer Jones with a draw for three. She had three in the

fifth and it looks a lot like three in the seventh. This is good all day

long. Well done. Good end. They are just not letting Liu Yin take a

look. Make sure she confirms three. There is the handshake. This one is

over. It came late but there is the handshake. The Canadian in

contingent says good job Jennifer, good job, team Canada. I have played

against a few sweepers. I would be the one who does the thing with the

brush at the end. I would take the glory. Thank you for that. It is

going to be a big match on Wednesday as Eve Muirhead and her team play

against Canada. It is important to have a coach who knows all about

winning Olympic gold. One last delivery for Olympic gold. It is on

its way. She has done it! It is Olympic gold

for Great Britain. Curling is a great social sport. The members in

my club, the youngest is about 14 and the oldest is in their 80s and

everybody is playing reach other so you can have Olympic champions

playing with normal curlers in one team. At school I played hockey and

badminton and it was when I left school I wanted to do something

different. My brother curled quite a bit and he said I should give it a

go. The first time I did it I heated it, I kept falling, but thankfully

he persuaded me to come back. It was not an Olympic medal sport when I

started playing so I could not say that was my dream, I was just

playing it for fun. As curling progressed and became an Olympic

medal spot I thought, this is what I want to do. The demands on your time

became greater and greater. We never got to see you. By that stage I had

stopped working and the children were young, so it was juggling with

children and training, so throughout the journey it changed as to the

amount of training you had to do and it changed my lifestyle accordingly.

Before I went away I always had to make sure everything with the

children was left in an order that they know what -- they knew what was

happening but once you are away your focus is on performing. We knew if

we went and played well we could absolutely beat any team that was

there. I have never actually watched the whole final the hallway

through. Switzerland were quite cagey through the final. We had that

last stone advantage and I thought, that is going to be down to me, so

if I do not make it, the team will probably never speak to me again.

Good to see her smiling. We were not aware of what was happening back

home. It was only after the final that we understood what was

happening. This is it, the stone for glory is on its way. She has done

it! I thought, what have we done? The media were everywhere. I cried.

A fantastic experience. If you have been inspired by that,

although the website. -- follow the link on the website. There are lots

of ways to watch the Winter Olympics across the BBC.

What the excitement of the Winter Olympics with BBC Sport. We are

showing every sport live with up to six streams of live sport so you are

in full control of the action from the Games. Check out our live

updates and catch up on any action you have missed on BBC iPlayer so

you can share all the drama wherever you are.

Do not be inspired by that, abseiling up the cauldron, Alec to

bit of maintenance going on. We are going to a sloppy. I was in the gym

this morning and next to me was an Olympic champion at a sloppy. -- ice

hockey. The USA are back in action, the world champions. Here is your

guide to Olympic ice hockey. Ice hockey is one of the fastest team

sports in the world. The puc edge travelling at high speed. The aim of

the game is the score more goals than the opposition. Matches consist

of three 20 minute periods with two 20 minute breaks in between and dark

with a face off in the centre of BA -- the ice. Penalties can be given

and players have to serve time in the penalty box. If a team has a

player sent off, they are said to be playing short-handed well be

opposing team is on powerplay. This is the best opportunity for a team

to score. There are couple of ice hockey

venues, the Bolshoi which is the main one, and one of -- over there.

Before that, let us remind ourselves of the famous USA victory.

1980, the Olympic flame, Lake Placid in the mountains and onto this

frozen corner of upstate New York stepped this albeit. The Soviet

Union has just invaded Afghanistan, and is coming to conquer sport on

American soil. The Soviet Union are ice hockey champions of the past

four Olympics. USA, on a ring the Olympic chord of amateurism, select

none of their professionals, instead selecting college boys with an

average age of 21. Under the guidance of the coach of the

Minnesota Goafers. What is sensation!

The United States have beaten the Soviet Union. 28 years I have been

reporting on ice hockey and I have never seen scenes like this. A

sensation. Throwing their sticks in the air. There is still a game to

win against Finland. The United States have made it 4-2! Tell the

team how much I love them and we are proud of you. Celebrate! The Phil --

White House treatment. It was a remarkable big silly and it

was -- a remarkable victory and I always think it was the final but it

was the semifinal. This is a big moment for the

Americans in this campaign. For the Swiss this is a measuring marker,

they have struggled against the USA. How much work will she get? Not as

much as the number 41 for Switzerland who was outstanding

despite stopping 64 of the six nine shots -- 69 shots in the previous

game. The Swiss are in white and will go from left to right on the

screen. The Swiss can get a bit of time and

space. The Americans still have their tired

defenders out there. Looking for the wrap around

opportunity. If we look at Monique Lamoureux, that is a couple of

times, we can see on the replay, it was a great opportunity, goes across

the face of goal and they just sort of ran out of the open side.

Possession for the Americans. That will be 50/50 on the ball.

The US will try and send it in again. Can the Swiss play with the

kind of attacking ambition that they showed. We are going to get a

penalty here and it is an early call for book. It is goalless and we are

going to see some power play and Carpenter will head for the box. She

has just too much fresher -- pressure. And down goes Cannes

three. The USA will feel a bit aggrieved particularly if the Swiss

can make this count. It was a harsh call. I do not know if I could see

what the referee saw. We will see a power play for the Swiss. They have

one player advantage for the next two minutes.

Frautschi for Switzerland. A good outlet pass.

Held on the boards, Switzerland regained possession. They have

behind the back of the net. Stephanie Martin is in front. The

encouraging it for the Swiss power play and in this game is their pace

and build-up towards getting a shot. There was a save their but it was a

good shot and there is presence in front but they do not rush to take

that shot. They have been able to move it around and get everybody

involved. Cleared away by the Americans. Good

stick work and good footwork. Cannes three is experienced, she is

one of the players that played in Turin. -- Bullo.

This is dangerous. They are under pressure. She is still under

pressure. Really good skating. The attack ends up getting in the

way, blacking -- blocking the shot and putting on the pressure.

Jocelyne Lamoureux struggled in the first game. She won that but she won

it too well. It meant that they had to go back.

The twins here we will refer to some toes by their first names because it

makes it a bit easier. That was given away by the Swiss in

their own zone. This is a real chance. Money kids there. The

Americans score. -- Monique is bad. The threat from the Lamoureux twins

paid off. The Swiss Open the door for the Americans to step through

and they stepped right through. It was Cannes to Lamoureux who is the

one who will taste first blood in this match. -- Monique Lamoureux. It

is the first goal of the tournament for Monique Lamoureux. She has

piercing blue eyes. She pierced that goal as well!

I wonder if that will change how the Swiss approach the game. The Swiss

had already conceded in the first minute and our half in the opening

games. This is a new identity of the game with the Americans scoring

first. That is a good save on a deflected opportunity.

It is going to go in! Deflected play. Amanda Kessel found the net. A

high five to the Americans and just like that they take to goalie. This

list at the moment look like statues. They are just watching. It

is Decker who got the touch and it rolled across the line. They made

sure that Al -- emblem just trickled across the paint and it did so for

the gold. It just inched across and rolls to freedom for the Americans.

A horrid gold concede. The official stats gave that to Amanda Kessel but

I do not think that is right from the replays that we have just seen.

33 Americans! Amanda Kessel scores and the Swiss are in a mess. Amanda

Kessel's first and the US now lead by three goals to them and this game

has a big hole knocked right in it. This is unbelievable. She just

buried that. Amanda Kessel will find a way easily from there. Carpenter

bags one, stolen the other way. We are going to see some speed going

back the other way. That is a great save, did so well to stay there.

The Swiss defender gets some help from Hilary Knight. She is looking

for the wraparound chance. It is still alive. Hilary Knight

makes it four. The Swiss look like they had stopped because they

thought the penalty was going to be called but Hilary Knight was

stiffening up at the back of the net and her shot, her second of the

tournament, and America are firmly in control. Very surprising but

explosive. She ends up being taken down but Hilary Knight just stayed

with the play when the Swiss defenders were anticipating that

they may have been able to touch it. Shelley could not see it. She was

being screened in front but Hilary Knight just got there first and it

hit off the post and it went in. It is really easy for the Americans

now. Hilary Knight is a superstar. I think she may be up there with the

players of the tournament at the end of this one.

The period ends cannot get fast enough -- come fast enough for the

Swiss time who need to get a grip on this game.

The official announcement there gives an assist to Julie Chu.

Possession goes the other way though. The Swiss will now dumping

Sarah Forster. She is uncompromising.

A hard-hit comes the other way and the penalty is coming which is the

last thing you need. As she makes her way off the ice no doubt there

will be a massive disappointment from the Swiss team. Hanging tough

for the first half of this period and is now the slamming play in on

the American defender from Sarah Forster. We have seen a lot of body

contact but it was the intention with which Sarah Forster was going

in with only the body to play in mind.

Amanda Kessel may get a second on the power play here.

There is Amanda Kessel. She has now got two and that was a sweet finish.

A power-play goal for the Americans and it is high fives all around as

they lead 5-0 in this first period. That is the best team play from

anybody I have seen in this tournament so far. The way the

Americans move the puck around, it goes from Decker over to Kessel and

then it is short side. What a finish, she knew exactly where she

wanted it to go. It is between the blocker and the body and it is

poetry in motion for the Americans. That will be a set designed that

they want to achieve and they executed it. She is going to get

another chance. What a save! That is highlight real star. Florence

Schelling has had a tough old timer that is one she can smile about.

Cannes one gave a smile of acknowledgement to the referees

there. In the Olympic Games it is a wonderful moment. -- Monique

Lamoureux one. This period has been dominated by

the Americans and they lead this one x 5-0.

That was a big deflection and there is a penalty coming. We will see

another Swiss power play, their second of the game. Their first was

pretty decent. That takes away what looks to be a

very promising opportunity in front of the goal and you can accept those

penalties if you are the American coach. The next opportunity might be

even better than what they can generate in the power play. This is

the final Olympics for Julie Chu and she is hoping to sign off with a

gold. That is what she told us in the chat the other day. Nicole Bullo

returns to her own end. That is a nasty looking play. It

gave possession back to the Americans. It is very difficult when

you give those wide passes. That is the American captain, she is going

to get some help out there. There has been a power-play -- this has

been a power-play that has spotted so far for Switzerland. Really poor

outlet players this. Another smart play from Nicole Bullo but it was

stolen away there. They are just creating their own problems here.

Here is Hilary Knight. She is merciless and she fires in on goal.

You have to remember that the US have one less player than

Switzerland right now but it does not look like it. I remember getting

report cards when I was younger and you used to have a U or I and the I

in this case would represent insufficient in as far as the Swiss

power play is concerned. They are at sixes and sevens and have lost their

ability to move the park. They are making plays now that are hopeful

and wishing but that will not get it done against these Americans. Good

gracious! These were additional comments after you got the letter A,

B, S D. It meant if it was really poor it was insufficient. This is

insufficient from the Swiss so far. They are better team than this my

opinion. It feels more like a power kill.

She was desperately trying to get rid of it and I think she is going

to have a few words, Laura Benz. She has been penalised for holding the

puck. She had it in her body and did not want to let it up. It was great

defensive play a moment ago. This goes right into the body and she

holds on for far too long and she is going to be penalised for delaying

the game. That is harsh. It looked as if she was trying to get it away.

It is harsh, but I think she had it too long. She starts trying to move

out. She drops that where the Americans can get on it.

She has been involved the whole day, but the Americans have been too

much for her. They seem to have had their rivalry, they no doubt play

each other week in, week out. There is no messing. They are

turning up on the alley. They were blown apart by this American

powerhouse. The powerplay has 26 seconds

remaining. The puck was contacted by the American sticks. Once you knock

that puck out of the air, and it is above shoulder height, that is why

the whistle was blown. The Americans have come here to win

gold and this will determine where leg are in the group.

The sisters combine again, double trouble for the Swiss. As it came

back, the shot was high and over the shoulder. Great puck movement and

great stationary position in front. Monique Lamoureux's shot perfect. It

changes direction. Monique Lamoureux takes their advice of the coach.

It goes across the face. We get another whistle. Somewhere at the

back is Kendall Coyne and this is hard opportunity. -- her

opportunity. What approach do these teams take

from here? The Americans have to keep on keeping on. They have to try

keeping on trying to score. You cannot let up. The swifts need to

push forward -- Switzerland. I think that was very close.

Amanda Kessel claims are hat-trick, finishing on the back and side. A

game to remember. It is number seven for the USA. Whether or not they

allow the first nibble across the goal line, obviously the referee was

right on top of it. That all will not count, they will code the first

one if that is what the video shows. I think that was a alley. I

think so. Amanda Kessel could be denied the opportunity for the

hat-trick. It is a goal for Kendall Coyne.

An interesting question, who will score the hat-trick first? Amanda

Kessel. Two goals for Kendall Coyne. Three

players sniffing for a hat-trick. That is number nine. A lovely

finish. She flicked it high over the blocker. The US can rejoice.

Carpenter under due rest -- in trouble.

She has a few words to say. We were talking about Hilary Knight, she has

had a quiet day, won two, one assist. Amanda Kessel and Kendall

Coyne seem to have a good relationship with one another.

Comprehensive for the USA. They face the Canadians on Wednesday with

great confidence after back-to-back wins to start the Olympic campaign.

Switzerland are taking a battering in this campaign. The USA looking as

if they might win this campaign. If you have bad knees, you might want

to look away now, because it is the moguls.

Welcome to the Rosa Khutor X-treme Park. We have 30 of the top bomb

gears in the world -- bump skiers in the world. Nobody gets eliminated at

this stage, the top ten advance directly to the final and the

remaining ten that allowed for the remaining places.

This is our first man for Italy, easy to spot with the colours on his

lower legs. Setting up the second kicker and goes forward with the

flip. He came 23rd in the 2011 World

Championship 's. One of the tallest bomb skiers.

The judges are marking the skiers on turns in particular. The terms count

for 50% of the scorer. The time takes up 25% and the pace time is

25.46 seconds. That is what they are skiing against. The air is make up

the remaining 25%. -- the area is what makes up the remaining 25%. Not

a bad start for Italy. Back at the top, the first of the French.

He missed eight months of 2012 with injuries, he is surely but surely

finding his form again. A beautiful Cork 720. He is now starting to go

and making the most of the money turns and moving very quickly. He is

absolutely flying. An excellent job of the second kicker, but the

landing wasn't as clean as he would like. Not the end of the road here

for any body, because they all get to go again. Straight to the final

for the top ten, or the rest of them have to battle it out again. Two

twists in that backflip from the first kicker. These are the best of

the turns. Not totally controlling, he was a passenger for some of the

way down, you can see the aerial manoeuvre round the second jump. 20

degrees on the axis. He was penalised for the poorer turned in

the middle part of the course, so room for improvement, but he is not

going anywhere, he would be back for more later. Next, Finland, number

three, they the Olympic title in 2002 at the Salt Lake City games.

Good landing, starting to go to work here, and he is out of control and

desperately trying to bring it back. He will not be disqualified, he will

get a finish, but he will get a poor score.

He took out the panel, the width of the chorus between the control

gates. -- the width of the course. He was over the tales of his skis in

the back for a while, before he too could back under control, but he

lasted once more, flying off the tops of the bumps rather than

cutting in between. He puts the brakes on.

Ciacomo Mattis is the leader at the moment.

For a long time here, the Canadians have not been able to stop winning

gold. They have achieved great things. The panel is being replaced.

The first of the Russians here, Andrey Volkov, 2015 the Olympic

Winter games four years ago. He made his international debut at the age

of 14 in 2004. His younger brother also competes, surrogate, but we are

watching Andrey Volkov. -- his younger brother, Sergey Volkov. He

is absolutely steaming through here. This is to reflect. If e-mail is the

second jump, he will be in first position. -- if he nails the second

jump. A good landing. I think that would be good enough for first

position for Andrey Volkov, the man from Moscow. Settles down nicely,

the first full twist, back somersault. Then he put his foot

down and he motored across the snow in the money turn. His hands were

held gently on the ski poles. One or two moments where he was out of

control. This was the second jump. A 720 court of that second jump. --

cork off That second jump. He might just be penalised for a way

words landing on the second jump. Second position. That is a little

bit harsh on stopping shakes his head, he knows he has got better to

come. It is not over for the Russians.

Another Russian to go, only two Russians have won World Cup gold.

A decent landing, he goes to work. Charging through the middle part of

the course and lots of control. This is good to wash. Knees and skis tied

together in combat. He spins around and creates a second jump.

First jump, beautifully done. Twisting, full back somersault.

Grabbed both of these skis on the way through. This is worth seeing

again, this jump, this is the first of these we have seen. Hands

forward, a semi-pike position and holding both of the skis in front of

the topi is of the binding. And this is good enough for the lead. 23.52,

he is happy with that. The Russians in first and third place at the

moment. No medals to be one right now, they will be decided later at

11pm local time, so 7pm in the UK for the final round. They will go

for 30 in the first final, then down to 12, then down to six for the

final round. 20, to 12, to six, I beg your pardon. Next, Kazakhstan,

and start a great line straight after that.

They have had to turn up the speed of the cable camera to keep up with

these. Not a bad run. Fourth in the Deer

Valley World Cup earlier this season.

He did not totally straight his body on the first somersault, and the

landing was scruffy. I do not think the leaders in any danger. -- the

leader's in any danger. 20 go in final round one, 12 going

final round two, the best 60 the battle for the medals as Kazakhstan

skis into second position. It is starting to heat up. Next, Sweden.

Sweden have got a couple of good skiers in tonight.

Nine turns before the first kicker. A twisting back somersault, that is

lovely skiing in the middle. The upper body is still and relaxed and

his head is still, shoulders facing down. This is one of the best we

have seen in the money turns. The second jump and the backflip. He

keeps it relatively safe. We would be hoping for a direct acceptance

into the final. Hopefully, the chance to avoid the second round of

qualification. He is happy with how it has gone. The 2013 junior world

champion from Sweden. The second jump, the backflip and the irony

cross, really stretch that out. A nice landing.

Waiting for the score to come through. He might be scored down

slightly because of the lack of the degree of difficulty on the chums,

but it is OK, the speed is good, and he has got a solid scorer. He is in

fourth position at the moment. Russia is in the lead. Patrick

Deneen is consistently the fastest man across the snow, and he is

next, from the USA, 26 years of age, finished in the top ten in 24

of his last 25 events. He is Mr consistent. Not a great landing from

the first kicker. I told you he was quick, look at him here. He is

flying, but he is out of control, and he'd take out the gate, and he

has got an extra sock. He will not be getting direct acceptance into

the first round of the final. His family are here watching. He has two

sets down and see it again on the big screen. He started promising

enough. This is part of the problem with his speed, it is so excessive.

He was in trouble, he almost tripped over his right ski. He ended up

slamming into the control gate at the side of the course and removed

the panel which he wore for the rest of his run. He will have to go again

in qualifying number two, and hopefully, better luck. The score is

a relevant here, really, for Patrick Deneen, he knows he will have to

return and ski again in the second round of qualifying. No direct

acceptance for him. First of the Japanese, they are always explosive

and exciting to watch. , this is Sho Endo, the 23 rolled. -- 23-year-old.

The first kicker, nicely done, the middle of the chorus, watch him

going. Absolutely charging. He is eating up the ground. I sing from

bumper-to-bumper, and the second kicker and float it around. --

flying from bumper-to-bumper. He will score well on speed. The turns

were pretty solid, and he was decent in the air. He will, I would think,

go close to the score of the Russian leader.

Riding the mid-bumps beautifully. Excellent speed as well. Second

jump, Sho Endo gets a backflip. It is going to be first or second,

provisionally, for Sho Endo. I would say first. The judges say second. He

is just behind Alexandr Smyshlyaev. He has a decent chance, Sho Endo, of

progressing directly through to the final along with the best of the top

ten. This is the 28-year-old from Kawasaki in Japan. Ninth in the

Olympic Games in Vancouver. Nobuyuki Nishi into the middle part

of the course with his shiny suit glistening under the floodlights.

Fabulous to watch. Straight back somersault. Again, the time is fast.

Under the pace time. Enjoyed his run. Ignore the celebrations. All of

the bump skiers punched the air, generally, whether they have had a

good, bad or indifferent run. He bounced to the camera. Lots to enjoy

here. Backflip -- he browse to the camera. The turns in the central

part of the course as he came down on the left were excellent at times.

Got a great deal of distance on the second jump. The Japanese coaches

please. Top five, I would suggest, at the moment for Nobuyuki Nishi. It

is for. Good stuff from the second Japanese skier on the hill to night.

Now it is the turn of the second American, 21-year-old Bradley Wilson

from Utah. Younger brother at the 2010 Olympic bronze medallist Byron

Wilson. He is ready to go. Nine turns, sometimes ten, before the

first kick. Tall, upright figure. Now he gets to work.

Look at him fly down the left-hand side of the course! Bradley

Wilson's second jump is massive. Backflip. That is two seconds plus

quicker than pace time. Easily the fastest man on the Hill. Bradley

Wilson smiling. I think he enjoyed that. I certainly did. I hope you

did. That was fabulous. Best to slow it down to give you an idea of what

he is doing here. That was the full twisting back off the first kick.

This was his second jump. Backflip off the second one. It was the turns

in between that really distinguished his run. Look at the height he

achieved off the second jump. Bradley Wilson pushing for direct

acceptance into the final. Needs to be among the top ten. I think he has

probably scored a top five mark here. It is fourth. Alexandr

Smyshlyaev still leads for Russia. Second is Sho Endo. This is one of

the youngest in the field, just 19 years of age, Jimi Salonen. Let us

see what he can do here. Fourth in the junior World Championships.

Backflip, thrown forward, almost went out of the front door. Now he

is really fighting against the bumps in the early stages. Settled over

the second half. A little scruffy in places. Skis coming apart. He has

managed to stand up. Again, the time is fast. Under 25 seconds. Within

the pace time. Seeing a few of them scheme within pace. None of the

women in their final beat the pace time. The men are really throwing it

down the Hilton night. Softer conditions tonight. -- down the

Hilton night. It is warm and encourages the racers to attack

because the bumps are so soft and malleable, you can really absorb and

get stuck into them. Tougher when they are firmer as they were for the

women's competition. Got the crowd in at the end of that jump. Good

stuff from Jimi Salonen, the youngster. The turns will count

against him. I think he will have to return and try to qualify again. He

is ninth at the moment. The standard is particularly high here this

evening. Next ago, Ville Miettunen from Finland. Number 19. Comes from

a regular venue for the moguls skiing World Cup. Injured his knee

and probably should have had surgery right at the start of the season but

opted against it so he is skiing with a snap ligament. Goodness me. I

think he might have done some damage here tonight. That is a crashing

fall from Ville Miettunen of Finland. There was movement but he

is hiding behind the moguls. Worrying times for the finish team

here. Ville Miettunen, the 21-year-old Finnish man, of 28

dreadful start. Now the course workers are getting to him. -- off

to a dreadful start. The medic is there. He is starting to move but it

is not an encouraging sign here. It is a brutal sport when it goes

wrong. There is no way of escaping, unless you exit the course, and in

an Olympic competition, the temptation is to leave everything on

the Hill, push for a place, whatever the cost physically. Round of

applause for Ville Miettunen of Finland who is back on his feet. He

is going to be bruised and battered and I am sure he got winded. But you

never know, maybe he will be back for more later. He gets another

chance, if he chooses. He has picked himself up and dusted himself down.

He will be able to start all over again. I wonder if he will be able

to though. He is clearly in pain. This is it. Landed short of his

required location. Smacked him right on top of the bump. Then it was

headfirst and another couple of spins before he came to rest, hidden

by the mogul. Did not get all of the way round. Headfirst forward role.

The moguls are softer tonight. Thank goodness for that. If that had

happened during the women's competition, serious damage would

have been done. The warmer weather has softened the bumps. Goodness me.

Drama in the early stages of the men's bumps competition. The next

man on the Hill is from Maidstone in Great Britain. His name is Benjamin

Cavet. His father was a ski instructor and moved to France and

he chose to compete for France with a lack of backing from British

freestyle. His first run ends prematurely. Having seen what

happened to Ville Miettunen who landed in a similar fashion, he has

decided to call it quits and concentrate on his second run. Born

in Maidstone, lives in more zine -- France. Took up French citizenship

in 2012 and moved to France from England at the age of ten. Says he

always felt French when he was skiing and he has been in a French

club and it seemed natural for him to move up through the rankings in

the French team. And here he is in the Olympic team. Another chance for

Benjamin Cavet a little later. He made a mess of the first jump which

was ambitious, the lateral twist. It was an ambitious jump. But he

managed to avoid any mishaps on landing. Recovered without crashing.

That is important. He can return. He can have another go. There is the

French coach. Matt Graham is going for Australia next. Just 19 years of

age. For that the World Championships last winter. For the

earlier this winter in a World Cup in Finland. One to watch, let us see

what he can achieve here. Matt Graham, 19 years of age from

Australia. Nice start. A good landing. Straight back into the

turn. Now he is turning it on. He has chosen the left line. Battling

his way through the bumps. Approaching kick a number two. Great

landing off number two. Inside the pace time again. The soft snow

conditions really encouraging the skiers to attack here tonight. The

school to beat is still the target set by Alexandr Smyshlyaev. Sho Endo

is second. Dmitriy Reiherd is third. Matt Graham had his best performance

when he was skiing the money turns mid-course. Second jump, backflip,

iron Cross, spots the landing, complete the move, a couple more

turns and he is home. Will it be top ten? It is fifth for the moment for

Matt Graham. He will have to sweat it out to see if he makes it through

to the final without having to compete once again in the second

qualifying round. Best ten go directly to the final. They are led

at the moment by Alexandr Smyshlyaev, Sho Endo and Dmitriy

Reiherd at the moment. This is the bearded Swede, Per Spett. He is

great to watch. Pretty relaxed. Grins and smiles his way through

competition. Just wait and see if he pulls his trademark move off the

second jump. It is a fabulous manoeuvre. The first jump, backflip.

Three elements there. Turns for the Swedish mountain man. Pretty solid.

Prepare yourself for the second jump. I hope he does it! Superman

front flip. Skis away. That is what we like to see from Per Spett of

Sweden. A real entertainer. 28 years of age, his second Olympic Games.

23rd in Vancouver four years ago. First jump, backflip, iron Cross,

solid ground. Tweaking it out with the raised right arm to add a little

more creativity to the jump. This is the trademark move, the Superman

followed by the tarp front somersault -- tuck front somersault.

Then he produces that. The turns might count against him, but I hope

to see much more of him in the contest tonight. Per Spett, he will

have to try and qualify again, I suspect. The 25-year-old from Sydney

next. 11th at the World Championships last year.

Sam Hall get the three, two, one call. First jump, the backflip. A

nice start from Sam Hall. He was a passenger, now he's battling for

balance. He is fighting for control. Full twist back from the second

kicker, but he lost it midway. The skis got away from him. He tried to

keep his body in time with his skis, but it was a struggle after the

first landing. Over the tales. Some good moments. Some bad moments.

Alexandr Smyshlyaev is still leading, Sho Endo is second,

Kazakhstan third. Those three beginning to feel confident about

qualifying directly. And with just 12 to go, their chances are growing

all the time. Sam Hall will have to move and ski again in the second

qualification round. Now, Mike Kingsbury, the first of the two big

names in this sport, Michael Kingsbury has won three world cups

this season. Alex Bilodeau, his compatriot, he has won world cups

also. This is Mike Kingsbury, the 21-year-old. He skis the first of

the two big guns for the Canadians. They already have gold and silver in

the women's competition. Mike Kingsbury skiing here in his first

Olympic Games. Nice work in the middle part. The skis and the knees

locked together. Pretty solid. I do not think it will be troubling the

run of Alexandr Smyshlyaev, but you might be playing it safe here. Here

we go, the first jump. Straight. Good landing. Not much wrong with

it. Reputation can count for a lot. His second jump was pretty solid.

Not much wrong with his run. He might get into the top three here.

The coaches pretty happy with it. Will it be better than the Russian,

Alexandr Smyshlyaev, it has got to be top three. They have given him

first. A good chance of direct passage through to the final. Philip

Maki is next to go for Canada. He got picked for the Canadian team

following an injury to another skier, he would be hoping to make

the most of this opportunity. These are some nice terms. He is ripping

it up. This is great to watch. Excellent bump skiing. All of the

elements are there. I think he will be pretty pleased with that. A late

inclusion in the Canadian team. His older brother finished fourth, just

outside of the medals at the 2010 final. Skiing nicely. The skis were

parted at times, but the red was sensational. -- the rhythm was

sensational. I sometimes think a little bit of wit between the skis

makes it look better than when they are locked together. The judges were

liking bad, they have given him fourth place. -- the judges were

liking flat. Kingsbury, 23.81, he is in the lead. Time for Dale

Begg-Smith to ski, the mysterious Dale Begg-Smith. The Olympic

champion in children in 2006. -- the Olympic champion in Turin. You can

see why he was crowned Olympic champion in 2006, he is a master of

mystery and a master of the Mogul. He explodes from the second kicker.

He is also a successful businessman, he has an Internet business, he

keeps his cards close to his chest. The Australians are particularly

warmed to him, they call him of the dale, because of his Canadian

descent. -- they call him Aussie Dale. Dale Begg-Smith, the champion

in 2006, the silver medal in 2010, the man of mystery. He is waiting

for his score to come through. The scorer has been 23.81, I cannot see

him beating that. He is in 13th place, so he will have to do it

again in the second round of qualifying. He missed a couple of

years after the last Olympics, and he is going to have to work really

hard to make it to the final tonight. Next, Brodie Summers,

another Australian, born in Paris. -- Perth. Twisting back somersault.

The money turned out pretty solid. Some nice work from Brodie Summers.

Barely out of control in the second kicker, and well executed. 25.73.

Just beyond the pace time. Now, a top ten is what he would like the

moment. With a bit of luck, a top six, really. There are eight more to

come, they include Alex Bilodeau, the defending champion, he would be

next. They also include Alexi publico, the 18-year-old Russian

from St Petersburg, and exciting prospect. -- Pavlemko.

The Australian coaches are waiting patiently. I do not know if he is

going to make the top five. Possibly the top ten. Remember, nobody goes

out at this stage. He is in seventh position. 21.56. He is in the top

ten for the moment, and he will have to hope that he stays there and does

not have to qualify again. Kingsbury is still leading the head of

Alexandr Smyshlyaev and Sho Endo. Here we go, the defending champion

is taking his turn, Alex Bilodeau, his great rival Mike Kingsbury is

leading the way. The battle continues. They have shared every

World Cup so far this season. Three wins each. Write to 720, looks like

you would topple backwards on the landing, but is back upright, and

Stanley goes to work. The Olympic champion doing what he does best. He

chose to go it alone, does not train with the rest of the Canadians. The

magnificent skiing from Alex Bilodeau. Inside the pace time. The

Canadians, they were absurdly enjoying that, there is his brother

on the right-hand side with a red jacket and the Red Hat, he was there

to watch 's brother on Cypress Mountain star to the Canadian gold

rush in 2010, and he is there again in rush hour. Corking through 720

and a slight wobble on the landing. A flash before he was back into the

groove. Ripping his way through the middle part of this course. I think

this would be a top 34 Alex Bilodeau. I think you will progress

directly through to the final the second jump with a grab inserted in

the iron cross. The twisting backflip. He is in the lead, he

takes the lead away from Kingsbury. 23.813 Kingsbury, 24.704 Alex

Bilodeau. The builds again. Next up, Korea, 19 years of age,

Choi Jae-woo Choi. The rookie of the year for last season. Let us see if

he can make it count in his Olympic debut.

Taking it on, taking a risk, a couple of mistakes, but keeping it

calm. A mass of length and height of the

second jump with a straight line into the finish. No surprising that

it is fast. I think it is probably a little bit too scruffy to push for a

top-10 place at the moment, but I do not know. Let us see what the judges

think of this. A silhouette against the darkening

sky, some excellent moments during the middle part of this course, but

some mistakes and another one later on. Will it be a top-10? Possibly

not. He will have to try and collar fire in the next stage. -- try and

qualify. Next, Pavel Kolmakov for Kazakhstan. The best of the

Kazakhstan eases Dmitriy Reiherd. Alex Bilodeau of Canada in the lead

at the moment. Coming right in the centre of the course and starting to

open the throttle. His knees are working overtime as he bounces from

the crest of one bump to another and turning it on beautifully. Similar

jump to Per Spett, the Superman jump. The youngest man in the

contest tonight. Five more to go here. And on the cusp of the top ten

at the moment is Nobuyuki Nishi of Japan. He might be knocked down a

bit by Pavel Kolmakov. A very entertaining pumps run. The Superman

front and then detox somersault with a good landing. The top tennis what

he wants, and the top ten as what he has got at the moment. He will have

a nervous wait as the last five come down. If you doesn't make it

through, as part of the top ten, then he will get another chance.

Nobody goes out at this stage. Jussi Penttala first Inland. A good

tradition in bump skiing, this is the 20-year-old from Helsinki. He

made his international debut at 16 and has been getting better ever

since. A full twisting back somersault from the first kicker and

he is not in full control here. Moving slightly from right-to-left,

east to west across this course with some good recoveries. Keeping it

going and gets to the final jump will stop it was hit and miss at

times, but the speed is good. Full control, no. On the edge, yes. Good

to watch, absolutely. And nice landing from the first. A bit of

airtime as he fought his way through, rather than controlling his

way down. He will have to qualify again. He will not get a direct

passage through to the first round of the final. Just to remind you, it

is a three state final, 20 in round one, 12 in round two, six in round

three, with the scores scrubbed at the end of each leg, a fresh start

for the best six as they go through to do battle for the medals, that is

at 11pm local time, 7pm with you. The last four, one of them is a

Russian. In fact, two of them are Russians. Excitement builds for the

local crowd. Best of the Russians as Alexandr Smyshlyaev in third. The

next of the Russians is on the hill now. Aleksey Pavlenko. Took a split

second to settle after landing the first jump. He has chosen the left.

A little nervous. The crowd doing their best to help them along. But

he might just have to return and have another crack at it. The

Russian team watching carefully as Aleksey Pavlenko takes his seat and

waits for his score. Not the most difficult first jump. Tuck back

somersault. Terms in the middle part of the course. Look at these

pictures in high-definition, absolutely fantastic. -- turns.

Flakes of soft snow flying up. It is a good second jump. But he will have

to try again, I would think. I am not sure there will be a top ten

place for Aleksey Pavlenko. Too many mistakes. Let us see what the judges

think of it. He will get another chance. He is 11. Just missed it.

Three to go. Next up, Dmitriy Barmashov from Kazakhstan. 29th in

Vancouver four years ago. There he is in the yellow. Dmitriy Reiherd is

already guaranteed a place in the top ten. Dmitriy Barmashov bids to

join him now for the direct those in the final. First jump, pretty solid.

Tidied up the landing beautifully. Look at him motor now as we ride

with him on the cable camera. He has lost a ski. An explosion of

equipment. That is where it ends, for the moment, for Dmitriy

Barmashov. The soft moguls saving him this evening. Assuming he has

not done any damage, he will get a chance to go again. Relief for his

other team-mate who is intent at the moment, Pavel Kolmakov. That was a

spectacular conclusion for the first run -- who is in 10th. His equipment

is being gathered and returned to him.

A chance to reflect on where things went wrong. Before he hopefully

makes another appearance on the course. DNF for the moment. But it

matters not with one more chance to qualify still to come, assuming he

is fit. He was getting further and further behind his skis, trying to

play catch up. Then the right ski released. He went into the big role

from right to left. I do not think the skis should have released. The

second ski came off and that was that for Dmitriy Barmashov. Now we

are back with the Russian team. 26-year-old Sergey Volkov. The

Russians are off to a good start. They have one man through to the

final, Alexandr Smyshlyaev in third. First jump nicely done. Knees up to

the chest. It is beautiful skiing. Sergey Volkov from Russia is ripping

it up. Has to maintain control. He is in trouble. That is going to

hurt. He has crossed the line. And he is shrugging it off. But surely

he is going to be bruised. I think he landed face first, hence the

goggles flew off. Well, what drama here and it is only the qualifying

stage. This was it. What was he thinking. Lost his spatial awareness

mid-flight. The goggles were sent up into the night sky. 70s disco

dancing mid-flight there for a moment. Hard to watch for the

Russian coach. But you know what? I think he might be all right. Thank

goodness the bumps are soft and night. -- tonight. With one to come,

the man on the cusp is still Pavel Kolmakov in 10th. He has to watch

nervously as the last of the competitors, the 29th man on the

whole, Marc-Antoine Gagnon has a go at the top ten. Sergey Volkov gets a

school, not that him matters -- not that it matters. He will be back

again. Here is the last of them, Marc-Antoine Gagnon of Canada, 22

years of age, from Quebec. He is ready to go to close the first part

of the Olympic competition here tonight. Nine terms at the top

before the first vicar. Full twisting back -- first kicker.

Canadians holding first, second and fifth places at the moment. Can they

get another man through to the top ten? Pretty solid turns. The landing

might prove costly. The speed is good. He is inside the pace time.

Mixed bag, really. Congratulations from one of the

Canadian coaches. The Canadians have such a solid tradition in bump

skiing. Gold and silver medallists in the women's would be sisters.

They got first and second. They have got two through to the final. Only

25% of the school comes from the jumps, remember. -- the score. They

have given him the best and he goes straight through to the final. That

is a big score. -- they have given him fifth. Four Canadians have made

the final directly, including Alex Bilodeau. A couple of Aussies, one

Kazakhstan skier and a man from the USA, among others. These are the

qualifiers... Pretty cosmopolitan but dominated by

the four Canadian flags. These will have to go again.

All of these guys as well will be back hopefully, injuries and crashes

permitting, to do it again for the second round of qualifying to see if

ten of them can get through to join the top ten already in the final. It

is all coming your way later on this afternoon. Right here on BBC Two.

Thank you. I wonder just how soft those bombs really are. When it

comes to the mogul, it gets a bad press. Halfpipe, slopestyle, very

cool. I think the moguls are incredible. As far as speed skating

is concerned, one nation has dominated this. It takes place in

the Adler Arena. There is a great light show that goes on at the end

of the arena. I am just waiting to see if the colour I want is going to

come. It did. Orange. It is all about the man in Orange. He is going

to skate out of his skin here. He is the man. There is the classic

style. The crowd love it. Arguably, the greatest 5000m skater of all

time. History made here. The Dutch are first, second and third. She has

completely annihilated the competition. Two competitions down,

two gold medals to the Dutch. They are loving it. Yes, they have been

brilliant and I was very lucky it changed to orange. The 500m is live

on the red button now. Watch out for more Dutch success.

Curling, yes please. I have been practising for years. When I first

started, my paws were frozen to the ice. Get me on terrestrial.

The Olympic Park looking a little bit dark. The Olympic rings in the

background and there is the Bolshoy. We are off curling shortly. At 5am

this morning, Dave Murdoch was in action against the Russians. They

won 7-. -- 7-4. C or from Dave Murdoch. -- let us hear more from

Dave Murdoch. British curling. Curling is a target sport, very much

like long bowling in that you have to read the green. The ice changes

and we are aiming with a target with the houses so it is quite difficult

to assess the situation. There it is a little bit like chess because you

have to counteract each opponent's moves. The toughest part of being

Skip is probably playing the high-pressure shop is at the end.

Sometimes it can be extremely difficult. If you do not make it,

you feel you have let the team down. This team has come into really good

form. We have young and enthusiastic guys and experienced guys as well. I

think that combination is starting to show through. We are hoping we

are coming into form at the right time.

The curling will be on now right through till the end of the games.

Here is everything you need to know about this amazing sport.

Curling originated in 16th century Scotland and appeared in the very

first Winter Olympic Games of 1924 where Britain won gold. Between 1928

and 1994, it was not in the Olympic programme. But Britain was thankful

for its reintroduction in 1998 as Rhona Martin's team won gold four

years later. She has done it. You will never see a better shot under

greater pressure. The aim of curling is to get one or more stones closer

to the centre of the house than your opponents. Sweeping is a key part.

It affects the distance and direction that a stone travels in.

There are four players each team, known as a rink, who curl to stones

each end. Only one team can score per end and mismatches are over ten

ends. -- most matches. Tactics are crucial. In particular, retaining

last own advantage, known as the hammer. -- last stone advantage.

Dave Murdoch and his team on the ice shortly. Lightspeed skating on the

red button -- live speed skating. Watch all of the excitement of the

Winter Olympics with BBC sport. We are showing every sport live from

Sochi. With up to six streams of live sport showing across your

devices, you will be in full control of all of the action from the games.

Check out our live updates and catch up on any action you have missed on

the BBC I player so you can share in all the drama, wherever you are. The

Winter Olympics across the BBC. First up this morning, it was the

British men against Russia, the host nation. It was a great performance

by David Murdoch and his boys, winning by seven points to four. It

was exactly the way you want to start your Olympic on petition. The

women were up against Sweden and it was tough. They lost that, Dave

Murdoch, and the guys, getting off to the perfect start. It's going to

be a different scenario for them now because they are up against Sweden,

one of the top nations here, just as they are in the women's condition.

We have got Jackie Lockhart and Steve Cram standing by to describe

this one. Lots of pressure on the guys, isn't there? If they don't

depose him of the lead, The Times gives him a running total of 71 54,

second at this stage... The teams are marching into the

wonderful signs of the back pipes, -- bagpipes, and they come from

Moscow, apparently! These are the traditional noise at the curling

competition. A good crowd building here for the second round matches. A

much tougher match in prospect, against the world champions from

Sweden. In that introduction, it was mentioned that curling is -- curling

originally came into the Olympics in 1924. Sweden got the silver medal

behind Britain on that occasion. There you can see from this morning,

Canada, China, Great Britain and Sweden all came through with

victories. Norway and the United States didn't play. It pretty much

went to script this morning. Sweden had a little bit of a tussle, more

of a difficult game than they might have envisaged that came through in

the end. It will be testing to see how things pan out this evening.

Jackie Lockhart, former world champion and multiple European --

Olympian, sitting next to me. We have a good atmosphere and we are

hoping for something similar tonight. It couldn't have been a

better start for Dave Murdoch. He had a fantastic start this morning.

It was against the home nation and there was a big crowd in. That

didn't put him off at all. This game is going to be the test for Dave, to

see if the team have settled and if they are going to play well. This

will be a close game, I'm sure of it. The boys are pretty calm. They

spoke well after the game. They started really well and that is good

for their confidence. The stats this morning, when they played, were 89%.

Sweden this morning, when they played, where 85%. They are matched

pretty closely and it is going to be who is going to be performing the

last shot, when required. The man you saw there, the skipper of a very

talented team. He is a bit of a character. He managed a double take

out which turned the game around for them. For Britain, it was a match

which pretty much went to script. Scott Andrews there. This young man

played really well. These three did set things up nicely for Dave

Murdoch, who shot 100%. He never put a foot wrong. He had one shot which

you and I were... Was that perfectly marked? That would be incredibly

harsh. They all played well indeed. They kept control of the match. The

Russians didn't give it up. As always, it was Britain's. Not as

difficult a start as the women have had but this much against Sweden,

they've got tomorrow... Two matches for the women and one for the men.

They alternate. It would be great to get off to two victories on his very

first day. The British men... Some controversy, if you like, perhaps

that is too strong a word, around the team that has ended up here. Tom

Brewster, was quite -- was for quite a long time, the skipper. David

Murdoch is more experience. He has been brought in to create this

quartet. It now represents prison at the Olympics. We will talk more

about that as the match goes on perhaps. If this morning was

anything to go by, then the selection is so far so good.

Britain have the hammer in this end. Michael Goodfellow is to set things

off for Britain. David just after Michael Verdi take

this stone out in a controlled way. It's just going to hang in there on

the edge of the rings. He almost had the luxury of a couple

of nice easy ends this morning, against Russia, just to get the feel

for not just the ice but the stadium. They have been in here for

a practice but it was the first time where they've been in with

spectators. It was a pretty full house this morning. It's filling up

nicely again this evening. Good atmosphere, particularly this

afternoon. Lots of hollering. Mainly for the Russians academician Mark I

think we are going to see ace -- a clean and simple end this end.

Michael being asked once again just to remove the stone.

It's interesting, we've been reading some of the quotes from the men's

and women's matches this morning and this afternoon. There have been

different reactions to conditions out there. Even some of the big

names, Brad Jakes -- Brad Jacobs, didn't have a good game. He

described it as ugly. David Murdoch had a cracking game. Brad Jacobs was

struggling with his weight and wasn't getting the draw at all.

David, however, was always going to love the ice. He had no complaints.

It will be interesting to see how this game goes. The boys played on a

this morning and sometimes the end sheets can play differently to the

centre to sheets. What we do see is a nice consistent weight across all

four sheets. And the guys are just playing in a nice, controlled way.

Nothing too heavy. Something they can manage and control on their way

down. Playing second, Fredrik Lindberg,

from Karlstad. Out of the four, Scott Andrews might

have looked slightly more nervous this morning but once he got going,

he settled in nicely and played some good shots. Yes, he definitely had a

better second half, rather than his first half. His parents are here and

is -- his sister. That may add some pressure when you know your family

are out there, rooting for you. Sebastian Kraupp. He is playing

third. He is probably the newest member. He has been very successful

in recent years. The last three world championship, Sweden finished

in the medals. The disappointing European Championships in Stavanger.

To win the worlds, it was the Brad Jacobs rink they beat last year. It

was, and they will be facing him again this week.

That was well held by the boys there. Curling fans will be well

aware of what is going on. If this is new to you, sometimes, the first

couple of ends allow people to get used to the conditions out there.

When you have the last stone advantage, the key is to try and use

it to the best you can. Try and score at least two. You will see

them starting to set up guards and play different to what you see at

the moment. This first end. This is giving everyone a chance to settle

in to sweeping. It's been a good thing for the game to have the three

guards Sonam brought into play. It forces a more aggressive game. When

I was a junior, you put one shot in, one shot him, and over again will

stop once this gets going, you can lay some shots out the front that

cannot be touched, until the fourth rock is thrown, the fifth rock is

thrown. That makes for a much better game, a more aggressive game. More

stones in play. Niklas Edin. I suppose to some

extent, despite the success the Swedish team have had, they've

always been under the shadow of one player at's double Olympic success.

I was reading something that had been said. He was asked about the

pros and -- prominence of curling. He said yes, it's a big sport but is

the women have the recognition. We need to innate medal. The men's team

have won a world championship a few times but the elusive gold medal has

passed them by. They've not won a medal until 1924. There was a hiatus

when killing was not in the Olympics. Despite successes

elsewhere, worlds, Europeans, they've never won an Olympic medal

since that first one. there are lots of people coming in

and it would be good if we can get a little bit of Russian success. Their

women are certainly capable of getting into the last four, next

week. The men, less so. That's a little bit unfortunate

there. He wanted to hit an role there. We've got the hammer, you

definitely want to be scoring a two. They will be a little bit

disappointed with that. You can see a look of constant -- consternation

on his face. That should have hit it right on the nose. It should have

sat there. Britain leading but a little mistake there from Murdoch.

That's the first one we've seen. Sweden have last stone advantage.

Michael Goodfellow to play. It is going on further than they

would have liked. Initially, he went to keep these shots high. -- you

want. They've just asked for a corner card

here. Sweden, of course, with the last stone and they're going to put

a corner guard on. Hopefully, at some point, to swing another stone

around in behind it. Dave's just asked Michael to put a centre guard

on. He really needs to take cover of that.

They've got to start to try to think two, three, four shots ahead. Try to

build the end. They know each other's games so well. It's not as

though they don't. They play so many competitions. They know each other's

games very well and know the strengths and weaknesses. It must

come into play. Yeah, without question. We heard David Murdoch at

the press conference saying that they've got several game strategies

and pull out the one they want to play against whichever team they're

playing. It's going to come down to execution

here. It should just come into shot just

about now. Really doesn't want to go too heavy. That's a nice shot. We

were talking watching the women this afternoon, there was a definite

discrepancy as to how much late curl and swing there was. It will be

interesting to watch. They were playing in the middle and you were

saying that sometimes it's a little different. The girls felt they had

to take a bit of ice, but it wasn't breaking until the very last minute

and if they didn't catch it quick enough it swung and caught them out.

From what I can see at the moment it just seems to be a nice swipe,

although they are braking at last minute. Like this one. They do all

the pulling from the home line in. There is Eva Lund, who is the coach

of the men's team. A strong member of the women's team and now coaching

the men's. She holds two Olympic gold medals.

The boys were saying they like having a woman as their coach,

because generally boys aren't so nice to one another and she brings a

little bit of femininity to the team. That was her quote. I wrote it

down. She said they care about others, unlike men. A bit harsh.

Good for Eva. There is Soren Gran, the women's coach. No question marks

about his allegiance in a match like this. I hope not. He's getting paid

by us. Exactly! He was, actually, at one point the

coach, but the coaches will travel all over the minute. If there's a

job going, they'll move. They'll fulfil the roles they've taken on.

Unfortunately, our yellow stone is just sitting behind the T line

there. They are just going to come down

here in an out-turn, just enough to bump the red and yellow to give a

little separation, but they want to sit on the nose of the red stone.

Greg was playing really well this morning and executing shots almost

perfectly. He will be very happy with his performance. He got a 96%

score this morning. He was playing really well.

This is another nice shot here. It's from Greg. It's all about setting

the stones up. They don't have to win. Or have all their shots

counting first at the moment. Like we say, it's chess on ice and the

strategy is they need to bring in the yellows here and at some point

somebody will throw a big shot. We keep reiterating this. When you -

the plan here is always going to be for Britain, when Sweden have the

hammer here, to at least allow them one, possibly, the steal.

Kraupp very, very good third for them. He used to skip his own team

until he joined with this team at the back of 2009.

Sebastian is from a family of curlers. His dead is the coach of

the Russian yun juror -- junior ladies and his sister also plays. --

his dad is the coach of the Russian junior ladies and his sister also

plays. It's a common theme. It is. Lots of families. Lots of husbands,

wives, brothers and sisters. Kraupp's brother is in Calgary

training to be an ice maker. That yellow stone, I think the red

stone may still be counting short at the back there. Close. I'm not sure.

It's difficult to say from here. Yes, it is difficult to say from

here. Those two stones sitting at the back

are obviously the ones that the British yellow stone is closest to.

It's the shot at the top, but the two could come into play.

That didn't quite come off. Well, I'm not so sure. I think that's

probably as good a shot as he was going to get. His main concern was

that the stone he's throwing doesn't roll out the house and hangs across

in the corner. Remember, these guys have the last stone here.

David Murdoch with the one, two there, with the shot behind him in

the first end. Remember how well he played this morning. I think he will

be looking to lift the red stone beside the brush and the one sitting

just where Greg is now. That's ended up in a good place. I

think he's just come down to have a look and see it. They're checking

the other British stone. It's really difficult to tell from here, isn't

it? Edin known for his flamboyancy at

times and he does like the big shots. He'll be requiring something

here that - he created a really good shot this morning and it looked as

if it was going Niklas just wants to come down here

on the out-turn and to freeze it on to the top yellow stone. Two shots

now? Yep. What are David's options here?

Dave is hoping to take this shot out.

Of course, Niklas does have to make the shot. It seems simple, but he

has to hit and lie. It's pretaway straightforward. The other red don't

on left as you look at it. A couple of inches close -- pretty

straightforward. The other red is on the left as you look at it. A couple

of inches closer. Nicely on-line. So, two to Sweden.

Just checking, but it's fairly obvious to all, so they go into a

2-1 lead. It's not a bad start for Britain. I think it was good in the

second and now the hammer goes back to Britain.

Quietish start. Fairly straightforward. Just a couple of

shots going amiss. If you look and you've got the advantage of marking,

at the moment Sweden, 100%, all four of them. The shots too. British

fans, plenty of parents and family members who have come out to watch

the curling. It's quite good. It seems there is a

bit of an open policy on seating, that they've managed to get

themselves around to the other side, but the draw was made a long time

ago. Michael needs to be T high. He

really doesn't want... This is nicely judged. The boys are just

bringing it into set at the eight foot. A really good shot. Michael

Goodfellow studied history at Strathclyde University. He is about

to make his own history here. I was watching a you Tube clip

explaining sweeping, which was very informative. -- You Tube.

I mean the intricacies... He talked about the history and changes in

brooms etc. Also how important it is. This... We spoke earlier about

how much time the guys spend in the gym these days. At the pinnacle of

the game, fitness is required. It is quite noisy in here, when

Russia score some points. Michael was a little tight there and

he caught the guards. It could be difficult for the boys to hear each

other one -- when the Russian crowd starts to get going. They may start

to use hand signals. When the young lads scoring here, the crowd is

going wild. Back to the game in hand. Great

Britain versus Sweden. And the hammer will be with Great Britain,

the last stone advantage for this end.

The big competitions they play in Canada, its professional home. They

get big crowds. This sort of atmosphere must be generated. They

must be used to it. Most curlers here travel to Canada to play. This

is a very small crowd in comparison with some of the Canadian venues.

Yeah, they will be used to it. What is different about this ice rink is

it is quite small and the noise is heard by everyone. Generally, in

these big arenas, you can make a lot of noise but on the ice, you can

hear each other. You can hear the calls being made.

Another good shot from Fredrik Lindberg.

Scott Andrews from Irving, on the Ayrshire coast.

You can see the clock on the background. If all of this is new to

you, each team has 73 minutes to play all of its shots in the match.

The clock starts when the stone comes to rest from the opposing

team. It's your turn to play, if you like. That is why we tend to, in the

first few ends certainly, the play is a little bit quicker. As you

start to get the business end of the match, there is more discussion. You

want to have some time in hand, don't you, in case you have

situations you need to think about. Yeah. Roughly, and end will take

each team about seven and a half minutes to play. When... Cox were

brought into prevent slow play. It's to keep the game going. You will

lose the game, as well, if you run out of time. There have been games

which have gone to the wire and maybe 30 seconds or ten seconds left

to play. So, with Sebastian Kraupp playing

his shot, that allowed us to... No doubt we will end up being a blank.

It already goes back to Michael Goodfellow inadvertently taking that

guard away. Yeah. Even as early as the lead play, making a tiny

mistake, not even much of a mistake, it will alter the game's path. These

boys will just hit these stones in and out, run it through and take

their last stone advantage into what will be end for. -- four.

The Russian men have only been allowed into the competition because

they are host nation. All the other teams have garnered points in

qualifying competitions. It was the USA who came to the extra

qualifying, addition, held in December. The Russian men, you could

argue, would have been expecting to struggle to win. But I think Denmark

would have been one they would have targeted. So far, so good for them.

We just need Dave Murdoch not to make the same mistake that he did in

the first end here. The intention had to been -- had been to blank the

first ten. There was a slight this calculation and it stayed in the

house, after knocking a stone out. Successful execution, that time. So,

the third end, blanket and Britain retained the hammer going into the

fourth. Sweden will take the lead, 2-1.

Just a quick break from the curling, to take you to the biathlon centre.

A Norwegian athlete was going for his 15th medal and he finished in

fourth place. No 13th medal for him. He will have a few more attempts

over the next few days. On the red button at the moment, speed

skating, the 500 metres. We also have Luge, the women's first two

runs today. Also, ice hockey. Finland against Canada.

The first stone from Viktor Kjall in this first end. Michael Goodfellow,

his stats you can see there. They dropped a bit after that errant shot

in the previous end. He did pretty well this morning.

Murdoch just asking for Goodfellow to hit and role in behind his own

guard. He is playing a canny barrier wait

there, so he can retain his shot that he is playing, as a shooter in

the house. -- weight. That is a good effort.

We were talking earlier about stats in all sports which no give you the

full picture. You can have easy shots to play and come up with the

100%. Others may have more risk, more difficult shots, and look as

though they are not doing very well. The early stages.

I think Fredrik Lindberg would have preferred that stone to roll into

the centre little bit there. This has now given us the opportunity to

come in behind this and use it as a cover.

The boys need to keep this stone going.

That was a nice try. We are into the fourth end and there have been a lot

of decent shots but they have not quite been delivering on both sides.

There hasn't been anything to disastrous but it's been a bit

cagey. We have not seen some of the breaks that the girls saw this

morning, when the stone really takes a big pool. And there we go. We've

just seen the first real mistake and that is the first time Fredrik

Lindberg has not delivered. That's going back to what I said before. He

is trying... He was making a mistake. He needs an on-the-nose

shot. Whatever the result is, we do need

this yellow stone to stay in the house.

That wasn't the desired shot, either. Hanging in there, just,

though. Two of them in there. Now, the final one.

A bit of discussion there with the boys, just before Sebastian plays.

That's good, he's asking weight and line.

He wasn't trying to take them both out there. I think - Slightly

disconsulate with his shot. I think he's trying to hit the red beside

his broom and roll acoG on to the face of the -- across on to the face

of the other one. I think it might jam on the yellow on the other side.

Intense look of concentration on the face of Greg Drummond.

Again, we see the eight-foot lines. If you just give it a little too

much handle they don't take any turn at all. That's a slightly

disappointing shot there for Greg. The GB yellow stone at the back of

the house there, will be well hidden. He's been asked to play hack

weight. He's got plenty of room to come

around. It's well hidden. Spot on. Nice shot. Yeah. They're

just not quite - there's been one shot on each end that hasn't quite

set it up for more dock. -- Murdoch. Very much so. The weight is crucial

on this ice. We have already spoken about that earlier today. Even after

match practice, they were saying how crucial it would be to lay the stone

at the right weight that was asked. If you've never tried this sport, it

is really really difficult to get across to you how the finesse and

difference in the stone stopping two foot short or two foot past. It's

obviously the touch and feel and it almost becomes second nature for

people like Jackie, but it's a sport of tiny, tiny margins. That was a

nice attempt there from Greg. Unfortunately, there was space

between the yellow and the red. That gives Niklas the chance to come down

at a same laR way -- similar way to Sebastian to tackle it and angle it

threw. -- through. He will still be hoping to lie two shots himself.

I'm always amazed to see young man curling. He's had two major back

operations. He had something wrong with the discs and a lot of pain, so

it's nice to see him back on the ice. 2010 and then it recurred again

in 2012. A slight mistake there from Niklas. We keep talking about his

bad back. Yeah! Sweden still like the one shot, but

that wasn't the shot he was looking for. Dave will be hoping to come up

and tap that one. They've got the corner guard there,

sitting there, helping his case. When you get those little mistakes

from the likes of Edin, I think at this level you have to take

advantage, don't you, because they won't happen too often? No, this is

where we have got the last stone here. We have to make the shots if

we want to count the two. You heard David saying there, "They've taken

plenty of ice." They have to believe it's going to break. If you pull too

much with the down weights. That's a well-executed shot. Very

good. Perfect weight. That puts Niklas under a bit of

pressure here. Again, I think he's just going to follow that down once

again. It's a good shot. A nice shot.

Again, that's a lovely shot. We have seeing one good shot after another

at the moment. -- we are seeing won good shot after another at the

moment. That shot is pretty much welded on

there. Straightforward draw for Murdoch

there to take the one. Just for one moment it liked there might be an

opportunity to get two, but Edin with excellent last shot, just

closing the door. So, we are tied up at two, after four ends. It's been a

pretty even game, to be honest. It's probably a fair reflection. The

hammer now transfers to Sweden. I think the British team would be

reasonably content. It was just that first mistake from Murdoch, which

saw them take the one when they were looking to plank the end, but since

then it's been pretty even Stevens. Mafs going on elsewhere around here

in. -- matches going on elsewhere around here. In the Canada and

Switzerland game still no scores. The Canadians came here full of

bravado and without being too bombastic they were playing up to

their role as pretournament favourites. Russia have been pegged

back a little bit 5-2, against Denmark. Norway have jumped out to a

5-1 lead against the United States. Sweden with the hammer now.

Goodfellow. He's put the guard in place.

Probably just a little bit higher than they were hoping for, but you

can hear the boys saying it was tight and it was overcurling. You

don't want to take it off from the centre line, because it's the centre

line that you're trying to guard. Lindberg just watching this one. It

looks pretty good. He's trying to help it in, to turn in. Just a

little short. As Jackie's been pointing out, better there than

long. Didn't quite tuck in. If Britain were to win this match

and we are looking a long way ahead in terms of this evening, if they

were, it would be a fabulous start. There is a lot of talk about how

they could we form and it almost seems that within the British

contingent back home that there's been a little bit more - they're not

as confident, but when you read some of the journalists from around the

world, they are tipping Britain's men to have chances. Is it some with

in the middle? Definitely. Dave's got a reputation of not always

starting strongly in competitions and generally pulls through at the

end. If he has two wins under his belt after two he'll be very

pleased. He doesn't seem to be phased by anything that goes on

around about him. He's here and he's got his own game to play. Some

points to prove, I guess. Oh, yes, the disappointment of Turin and van

cure and something which I'm sure he gets fed up reading about. --

Vancouver and something which I'm sure he gets fed up reading about.

He will be judged about winning a medal at the Olympics. Very much so.

David holds two World Championship titles, but you can ask any of the

curlers what medal they would want and they want that gold Olympic

medal. I guess with that, comes the

publicity and the stardom that wow get with it, but it also raises the

profile of your sport as well. A little mistake there from Scott. A

disappointing little one. Similar line where we had a mistake in the

last end going down there. Albeit, I think it was from Michael rather

than Scott. They'll just have to watch what ice they're taking there.

He is going to move the red Seas got in the house, Niklas Edin, because

then they would be well spaced out. -- the red is he's got in the house.

These guys spend a lot of time in Canada, competing, training, the

rest of it. A couple of them have got Canadian slash American

partners. Certainly, this team are about as well known in Canada as any

of the foreign teams. Without question. These guys have been

together for quite a few years. They know each other inside out. And that

is good for them. It means somebody -- if somebody is having a bad day,

they will know how to handle it. That is the sacrifices these teams

make nowadays. They are prepared to live abroad, a lot of the time

because that is where the best competitions are. They will do the

circuit. It's got competitions are. They will do the

though, most boy bands break up after a couple of years on the road

together. Living in each other's pockets. You are living with each

other, spending a lot of spare time together if you are away from home.

There is generally only one member of the boy band which leaves though,

and they can always be replaced! Now, Niklas Edin is having to make a

decision about these yellows. I think that yellow in the front is

dangerous to him. He has plenty of room to split that through the

middle, as he has indicated there. He wants to be lying three shots and

if he hits that on the nose, the yellow in the wing would be lying in

third place and not the red that they have just played.

Not quite the result he wanted but not bad.

A lot of noise being generated, as the Russians take another point.

There is a good atmosphere had its good there are so many people in

here. It's just got past there. The result

was not too bad in the end, was it? It just squeezed past.

Well swept, the boys. I think they should maybe have kept on sweeping

there. It didn't roll enough to sit in the face of the other red. It is

still out in no man's land there, so it will be easy for Niklas Edin

2-hit. -- to hit. These two players work well

together. Yeah, nice. A lovely shot. Very good. I always think these guys

are very animated when they play. We are in a little bit of trouble

here, especially as we don't have the hammer. You heard Dave there

saying, this is killing us. He really wants to try and get rid

of too bit it is difficult. -- two. That really didn't pull as much as

they thought it was going to pull. It's given Niklas Edin the chance to

draw one in behind, where it was a centre yellow God. -- guard. This is

where he is capable of taking advantage.

You get ends like this. There was one this morning. It turns on one

end. They struggled early on, Sweden, and then a big shot from

Niklas Edin. It was plain sailing after that.

This game is quite often seen as a game of patience.

They are just leaving it. It may break now but it's... It needs to

stop. Leave some space between. This is a tough match for Dave

Murdoch against the Swedes. Clare Balding is up next but as for me and

my stint, the highlight has been in the Iceberg Skating Palace, where

Jack Welbourne became the first British man to do make the final of

the 1500 metres. Stay tuned for Clare Balding. Goodbye.