Pyeongchang Olympics begin with mixed doubles curling

Posted February 07, 2018 6:00 am

The Associated Press

Olympic Athlete from Russia curler Anastasia Bryzgalova prepares to throw her stone during the mixed doubles training session ahead of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) The Associated Press

GANGNEUNG, South Korea (AP) - The Pyeongchang Olympics have begun with a curling competition featuring a showdown between a pair of U.S. siblings and a Russian husband-and-wife team competing in neutral uniforms with no national insignia.

The opening ceremony is still a day away, but the games are already underway. Among the athletes are 168 Russians who are being forced to compete under the neutral banner of "Olympic Athletes from Russia" as punishment for doping in Sochi in 2014. Others who were barred altogether have filed appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and are still hoping to be allowed to participate.

The first event is mixed doubles curling, which is making its Olympic debut. The more familiar single-gender version of curling will begin later in the games.

There were four games played simultaneously Thursday morning.

Olympic Athletes from Russia Anastasia Bryzgalova, right, and Aleksandr Krushelnitckii train ahead of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) The Associated Press

United States' mixed doubles curler Becca Hamilton waits for her turn during training session ahead of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) The Associated Press

United States' mixed doubles curler Matt Hamilton gestures during training session ahead of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) The Associated Press

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