Sochi 2014: Winter Olympics off to early start on Thursday
Men's slopestyle and women's moguls are among the first 2014 Winter Olympic medals to be awarded Saturday.
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. (0600 GMT, 1130 IST) at X-Treme Park in the mountains above Sochi.
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, 1930 IST).
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, 2100 IST) at the Iceberg Skating Palace.
The men's short program is to be followed by the pairs.