The snow didnt affect biathlete Olivia Thompson`s accuracy today, she had a fantastic session up on Seefeld. Our curlers and ice-hockey skill players each had productive sessions on the ice today also. Luger Matheson Hill completed the last three of his six official training runs this morning. For this training the athletes were split into two groups with 15 sliders in Matheson's Group A. Matheson placed 13th twice and 15th in his three runs. Reaching a top speed of 101.4km per hour, Matheson was flying! One of the most amazing views I have ever seen is how Harry Izard-Price described his training session on Patscherkofel today. Harry is competing in the Super-G tomorrow, and loved going over the tunnels, ridge lines and through a forest of trees during his practice. But the highlight of the day for the kiwi team was the Opening Ceremony, held at the Bergisel Ski Jumping Stadium. Beau-James Wells had the honour of carrying the team flag, and looked fabulous on stage. The Ceremony was a celebration of old and new Austrian culture. The crowd viewed clips from two previous winter Olympics (1964 & 1976) Innsbruck has hosted, while traditional music was played. A group of young Tyrolean children kept the audience entertained with a vibrant dance, which our athletes will be able to learn at one of the workshops. IOC President Jacque Rogge urged our young athletes to try their absolute best and thanked Innsbruck for hosting the first of the Winter Youth Olympic Games. The torch relay unfolded in front of the audience. A former Austrian Olympian carried the flame while skiing down the jump, and then passed the flame on to Gold Medallist Figure Skater Yuna Kim, who then passed the torch on to the two Austrian downhill ski jump gold medallists (Egon Zimmermann & Franz Klammer) from 64 & 76 before lighting the Olympic cauldron. Tomorrow snowboarder Hamish Bagley and Super-G competitors Piera Hudson and Harry-Izard-Price compete in the morning. Our curling team faces off against Switzerland at lunchtime, and play again in the evening. Beau-James Wells and Sam Poots will compete in the afternoon on the half-pipe. Wish them luck!
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