21:49 We're nearing the end of the first runs in the women's halfpipe. It's a United States 1-2 at the moment, led by Hannah Teter. Three more to come.

21:36 Great Britain have held on to beat Switzerland 4-2 in the curling. Could be an important win that one... Canada beat Russia 7-4. The other two matches are yet to finish.

The reasons people are attending Sochi 2014

21:35 People are coming from all over the world to attend Sochi 2014. Our favourite so far? A group of Alaskans have travelled here because their friend is called Sochi.

"We were thinking of going to the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil but then we came here. Xochitl (pronounced Sochi) had to come to Sochi," said Xochitl Foster. "We're staying with a host family here. When they heard my name they were cracking up. They think it's great."

21:31 Still the big names are yet to take to the ice in the figure skating. The home crowd are hoping for gold medal success later on - but will have to be content with spills instead of thrills at this stage.

Oops! Stefania Berton of Italy falls in the early stages of the pairs final ©Getty Images



21:26 Daniel Alfredsson scores to put Sweden 1-0 up over Czech Republic in the ice hockey.

IOC Tweeters

21:21 Those social media statistics (21:00) deem it an appropriate time to see how vocal IOC members have been on the Twitter front today... Here are three of the best...

Already @dariocologna & @iouriamazing won gold at #Sochi2014 too. Medal table looks very good today! #HoppSchwiiz - http://bit.ly/1eHr0fw
- FIFA President Sepp Blatter - the most followed IOC member by miles - is delighted with Switzerland's medal success.

Congrats to the India NOC on its reinstated IOC status & to Narayna Ramachandran on being elected its new President!
- International Triathlon Union President Marisol Casado reacts to yesterday's news regarding India's return to the Olympic fold.

Love #Olympic spirit in #Sochi2014 : Team mates of Eric #Frentzel cheering after his victory today, great guys!
- But IOC Athletes Commission chair Claudia Bokel is leading the way in Sochii as far as twitter is concerned. Bokel the most vocal I think it is fair to say...

Round up...

21:06 Elsewhere at the moment, Marissa Castelli and Simon Shnapir of the United States lead in the figure skating... but none of the top eight from the short programme have been yet.In curling it is proving a bad day on the ice for Russia. Their men are 6-2 down to Canada.Great Britain, meanwhile, are 3-2 up against Switzerland, but its nervy stuff.

We're also underway in the evening ice hockey matches: Sweden versus Czech Republic and Latvia versus Switzerland. 0-0 in both at the moment.

Action also about to begin in the women's halfpipe final. 

Social Media statistics...

21:00 As you would expect, Sochi 2014 is dominating social media at the moment. Salesforce ExactTarget Marketing Cloud have put together some figures and discovered that so far there have been 1,132,956 mentions of Sochi, which equates to 768 a minute. 

#Sochi2014 is the most used hashtag, and is used in about a quarter of all mentions relating to the Olympics. But, worryingly for organisers, the top trending hashtag is @sochiproblems. And the most popular sport at the Games on social media? Curling with 93,504 mentions...

For more fascinating facts on this, including a special infographic, click here

Olympic Park

20:56 It has to be said that - after being being somewhat disappointed over the opening days - the Olympic Park has been like a different place today and for the first time - for insidethegames at least - you get the impression that the fans are at the centre of the Games.

National flags are everywhere - mainly Russian but also glimpses of German, Kazakh and Ukrainian ones - while an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation ahead of the figure skating is evident.

20:52 A mass medals Ceremony is underway in the Olympics Park. Eight sets of medals, awarded over the last couple of days, being awarded.

20:46 One man who will have certainly been enjoying the German success is IOC President Thomas Bach. He was attending a Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympic event in Norway House this evening - and certainly got some jealous looks from the Norwegians present - Norway being now two gold medals behind Germany.

He also took having this jumper thrust upon him very well. "It's nicely tailored," Bach reflected - before outlining the sporting, cultural and educational significance of the Youth Olympics.

Thomas Bach, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Lillehammer 2016 chief executive Tomas Holmestad in Norway House this evening ©ITG


20:39 Germany have only won seven medals so far but - sensationally - six of them have been gold. They are now two clear on the medals table ahead of Canada, Norway and the Netherlands - who each have four.

20:37 The luge action finishes tomorrow with the relay event. Teams are made up of one man, one women and one men's pair. When one finishes their run, the next start. I wonder who the favourites will be? Germany, by any chance?

A stunning backdrop is the scene as Germany continue their golden streak in luge ©Getty Images



20:28 What an Olympic Games Germany are having! And especially in luge. Tobias Arlt and Tobias Wendl take the gold medal.

They won by 0.522 seconds - which in luge terms is a country mile. Silver for Penz and Fischler of Austria while Latvia's Andris and Juris Sics take bronze.

20:27 Just the German first round leaders to come...

20:25 Mixed fortunes for Austria as Peter Penz and Georg Fischler are all over the place and have no chance of medals. But much better by Andreas and Wolfgang Linger - and they take the lead!

20:22 There has been plenty of sibling success so far in Sochi. Latvian brothers Andris Sics and Juris Sics will be hoping to add to that, and to their silver medal at Vancouver 2010. They are currently in the lead with four more pairs to come.

20:19 Meanwhile, there are plenty of tense and low-scoring matches currently ongoing in the men's curling. Both Russia and Canada, and Denmark and Sweden, are locked at 2-2, while Britain have edged 2-1 ahead against Switzerland. China 5-3 up against Germany in the other match.

20:16 We are getting into the business end of the luge doubles competition now with the top eight pairs from the first round taking to the ice. Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt of Germany are the leaders at this stage.

"Someone handed out Vuvuzelas at the door. It's gunna be LOUD in here tonight. #Sochi2014"
- Journalist Nick McCarvel predicts a noisy crowd at the figure skating.

19:57 It's hard to look past Germany for gold in the luge - and it will be three out of three for them if they do win it. The two Austrian pairs, Canada, and maybe Latvia, will likely be fighting it out for the minor medals.

19:48 In Summer Olympic news, Japan has set up a new panel of experts to help it become more influential internationally in the build-up to Tokyo 2020 by strengthening its "sports diplomacy". More here.

19:37 Three more gold medals to be won today, and the first of those is in the luge doubles. The second runs begin in a few minutes.

19:29 Stefan Groothuis was fourth in the 1,000m in Vancouver four years ago. Encouragement for Nico Ihle, who came fourth this time round, perhaps?

19:22 It's Olympic gold for Stefan Groothuis of the Netherlands, as the Dutch continue their speed skating superiority in Sochi. Denny Morrison of Canada takes the silver, Michel Mulder of the Netherlands the bronze.



19:20 Denis Kuzin of Kazakhstan and Mirko Nenzi of Italy the last two to take to the ice.

19:19 It's 11th for Tae Bum Mo. Stefan Groothuis leads with one pair remaining. 

19:18 Vancouver 2010 runner-up Tae Bum Mo of Korea is up now.

19:17 Four men - two pairs - left to take to the ice.

19:16 Seventh for Shani Davis. He looked cool and calm, but the stopwatch doesn't lie.

19:14 Shani Davis, going for his third straight Olympic gold in this event, is on next. History could be in the making here for the American.

19:13 Champion in the 500m, Michel Mulder of the Netherlands, goes third. Canadian Denny Morrison is third.

19:10 Yes he can, Stefan Groothuis goes top, 0.47 seconds ahead of German Nico Ihle, who he was racing with.

19:09 Dutchman Stefan Groothuis in the next pair. Can he restore honours for the Netherlands at the top of the timesheet?

19:07 Aleksey Yesin of Russia getting plenty of support from the crowd, with horns blaring in the Adler Arena Skating Centre. But it's only good enough for 9th. Five pairs to go.

19:05 Samuel Schwarz of Germany is the new leader in the speed skating.

BREAKING NEWS
19:04 Olympic 1500 metres champion Asli Çakır Alptekin is facing a life ban, the International Association of Athletics Federations announced today that it was appealing against a decision by Turkey in December to clear her of doping charges.

19:02 Attention now back on the men's 1,000m speed skating, where the gold medals will soon be decided. The second half of the competition is on, and defending Olympic champion Shani Davis of the United States will be one of the last pairs out. Dutch skater Mark Tuitert leads at the moment.

18:59 So that's run one of the luge doubles complete. Germany lead from the two Austrian pairs. Canada fourth, ahead of Latvia and Russia.

Banner rules relaxed

18:51 A new decree has been passed allowing spectators to bring banners into the Games and display them during competition. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has signed a decree relaxing rules for this region that had been outlined in a previous decree signed in December.

The old decree called for a number of restrictions on spectator banners, which required an official translation of any non-Russian words, which was then to be filed to the local administration for approval.

Under the new decree banners should not contain any offensive or swear words, advertising, religious, political or derogatory content or any information or slogan that is "against public order and/or morals". There is also a size restriction. Banners should not be bigger than two metres by one metre.

Security also has the right to ask spectators to unroll the banners and flags when they enter the Olympic zone so they can be inspected.

18:47 Are the Germans on for a luge clean sweep? With just a few pairs remaining in the doubles, and the in-form teams already clocking a time, they lead by 0.312 from the two Austrian pairs in second and third. The second runs will begin at 7.45pm.

Lebanese skier in topless calendar row



18:43 Lebanese skier Jackie Chamoun has caused controversy back home after posing topless for a calendar. The pictures, which show the 22-year-old standing in snow holding strategically placed ski equipment to protect her modesty, were taken for an Austrian calendar.

Lebanon's Youth and Sports Minister Faisal Karami has told the Lebanese Olympic Committee to investigate the matter "to ensure the protection of Lebanon's reputation".

Chamoun, one of two athletes representing Lebanon in alpine skiing, claimed the photos were taken three years ago, and the images in the final calendar are objectively less explicit than the video of the shoot that is circulating.

But she has apologised for the incident on her Facebook account. "I know that Lebanon is a conservative country and this is not the image that reflects our culture," she wrote. "I fully understand if you want to criticise this."

But, more liberal Lebanese have taken to social media to say she had nothing to be ashamed about and should not apologise. A campaign was started calling for people to take pictures of themselves topless and post them on Twitter in support.

18:35 With the first 10 pairs in the men's 1,000m speed skating complete, Mark Tuitert of the Netherlands leads. A short break now before the final 10 pairs get on the ice.

"As a child there were three horror films he knew from the west. One was Nightmare on Elm Street, the second one was Friday the 13th, and the third one was Miracle on Ice."
- IOC communications director Mark Adams relays Sochi 2014 head honcho Dmitry Chernyshenko's take on how deeply ice hockey, and the shock defeat by the United States at the Lake Placid 1980 Games, is ingrained in the Russian psyche.

Sochi's sunshine problem

Hot. Cool. Yours. is the slogan of these Games, but the relative heat is causing problems for organisers ©AFP/Getty Images


18:02 Sochi 2014 admit the warm weather here is causing them problems with the snow events but remain confident that it will not ruin the Games. Competitors have described the snow as "slushy, super sugary and very soft" after a week of sunny conditions but so far no events have been cancelled.

"The conditions have been difficult for the last eight days," said Oleg Kitov, deputy competition manager at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park. "Before that, it was a mixture of natural and artificial snow, now it's more like a granular snow on the surface. There is no plan to bring in more snow, but we will see what happens."

Temperatures at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park were 11 degrees in the shade and 15 degrees in the sun today. Kitov snow maintenance teams had been putting dry ice on the aerials course, and water and salt on the halfpipe. "Every morning it is quite safe, but our concern now is mostly about [warm temperatures in] the daytime," he said.

At RusSki Gorki Jumping Centre, organisers have been adding snow to the ski jumps and Nordic combined course for several days.

But concerns about warm weather and snow supplies are "a little bit premature", IOC communications director Mark Adams claimed. "I was at some of the events yesterday and it doesn't seem to me to be an issue," he said. "I gather snow is coming at the weekend and that temperatures will go down at the weekend, but not being a weather forecaster I can't be sure."

17:57 The United States have a slender 1-0 lead over Canada in the women's ice hockey, with one period remaining.

What's coming up?

17:48 Run one of two in the luge doubles begins at 6.15pm - did we mention we're excited about that one?

We have the men's 1,000m speed skating just before that at 6pm, with forty men racing to the line before the medals are dished out.

At 7pm, we have four men's curling matches getting underway, as well as the semi-finals of the women's halfpipe. 

Pairs figure skating is up at 7.45pm, when the second runs of the luge doubles also start. 

17:29 A brief lull in Sochi before we start trying to watch three television screens at the same time again. Canada and the United States are into the second period of their women's ice hockey match - goalless so far.

Eric Frenzel holds off the rest of the field to win the gold medal ©Getty Images



16:58 Another victory for Germany as Eric Frenzel fights back to take the Nordic Combined normal hill event.

Frenzel, always the favourite for gold, beat Japan's Akito Watabe and Norway's Magnus Krog into the minor medal positions.

Curling conclusion

16:56 Canada hold on to beat Great Britain 9-6. Worrying times for the British after two losses but they are still alive in this round-robin format. And of course winning an Olympic curling competition is about producing your best form in the medal matches rather than in the opening days.

The other two matches both ended 7-4. Sweden beating South Korea and China getting the better of the United States. 

16:52 Nordic Combined cross-country section is underway. Akito Watabe of Japan has overtaken Eric Frenzel of Germany after six of 10 kilometres. Japan have never won a gold medal in this event.

A nice photo here of photographers setting up their equipment ahead of the cross country finale of the Nordic Combined ©AFP/Getty Images



16:44 Great Britain are hanging on in there in the curling - but only just. They are 8-6 down but have the last stone in the 10th and final end. 

Two more points for Japan and they celebrate on the ice as they clinch a 8-4 victory over Russia. The crowd has fallen very quiet for some reason. Huge throngs are now leaving the stadium - which is disappointing as three matches are still going on. 

16:38 We've got the second half - the cross-country half - of the Nordic Combined about to begin here in Sochi. Then it will be speed skating and halfpipe snowboard action later this afternoon.

Olympic Park update

16:23 Good to see a decent number of people scrambling for extra tickets in the Park this afternoon...The whole atmosphere and vibe feels much more like London 2012 this afternoon. Friendly volunteers with big gloves to point with and crowds milling around simply relaxing and enjoying themselves.

Still a bit confusing getting to places and still seems dominated by Russian, rather than international, fans. But much more impressive today, all in all.

A volunteer helpfully points out the Olympic Flame for those who missed it ©ITG         More people in the Park on a beautiful - almost summery - afternoon at the Winter Olympics ©ITG


The scramble for leftover tickets to events in the Olympic Park ©ITG