1st events begin at Sochi Winter Olympics

SOCHI, Russia – Competition at the Sochi Olympics was officially starting Thursday, 32 hours before the opening ceremony.

Early starts are needed with 12 men’s and women’s medal events added since the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Men’s snowboard slopestyle qualifying runs – without American star Shaun White, who withdrew Wednesday – were beginning 10 a.m. (1 a.m. EST) at X-Treme Park in the mountains above Sochi.

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READ MORE: How safe is the Sochi slopestyle course?

Women’s qualifying runs were following in the afternoon, and women’s moguls qualifying was scheduled to start freestyle skiing events at 6 p.m. (1400 GMT).

Men’s slopestyle and women’s moguls are among the first medals to be awarded Saturday.

Down in Sochi, the new team figure skating competition begins 7.30 p.m. (1530 GMT) at the Iceberg Skating Palace.