Here in Britain, ice hockey is a minor sport, but for the US and Russia it's arguably the most important gold medal of this Winter Olympics. Since 1980, when an amateur US team defeated the Soviet favourites, the rivalry has been fierce between the two nations. In the group match this week, the USA snatched the victory on penalties, so now the Russian team will be out for blood if and when they progress to the next round. Considering our attitude to winter sports is usually equivalent to a primary school teacher's insistence that participation is all that matters, it's slightly unnerving to see an ice hockey match develop into a clash between superpowers.
5. Sportsmanship Isn't Dead
If you want proof that sportsmanship is alive and well, look no further than the reaction of men's doubles lugers Andris and Juris Sics, who guaranteed a bronze medal for Latvia after the Austrian favourites Peter Penz and Georg Fischler went dangerously wrong on their run. As the two men safely reached the end of the track, much to the relief of the British commentators who were clearly concerned that they might be injured, the camera cut to the Sics brothers to get a reaction to their medal. The two men were shaking their heads in disappointment on behalf of their rivals.