Timing can be everything, as Christy Prior discovered at the final Winter Olympics qualifying event in Canada yesterday.

Four years ago "it was a bit of a rush"; now Shane Dobbin, well prepared this time around.

Critics of Olympics say a third of budget is being siphoned off by Putin's friends.

An Islamic militant group says it was behind the Volgograd bombings that killed 34 people - and they'll give tourists at Sochi for the Olympics 'a present, too'.

Sochi is on the cusp of hosting one of the least loved winter Olympic Games.

Official says there's no need to rethink safety measures for Sochi Winter Olympics despite bombings in Russia.

The International Olympic Committee will consider dropping Russian pole vault star Yelena Isinbayeva as an Olympic ambassador after her comments about gay people, says president Jacques Rogge.

Gay competitors in next year's Winter Olympics risk arrest by Russian police if they engage in "propaganda" for their homosexuality, Russia's Sports Minister has confirmed.

Skiing destinations tend to be in well-heeled areas - from Queenstown to the Austrian Alps and Whistler. Naturally, North Korea wants to take its place alongside the well-groomed resorts.

New Zealand's only IOC member says there is almost no chance of Christchurch and Queenstown hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics.

The prospect of world No 1 halfpipe skier, Wanaka's Jossi Wells competing at the 2014 Winter Olympics is a step closer.

Olympic skier Tim Cafe has been told by a judge he should suffer the consequences of his bad behaviour just like anyone else.