Winter Olympics 2014: A-Z guide in the build-up to the Sochi Games

The opening ceremony takes place on February 7

So there you are, moments from Olympic glory on your snowboard - time to show off with one more little trick... Lindsey Jacobellis fell over in Turin in 2006 to squander a three-second lead.

The 2014 Winter Olympics are nearly upon us.

The opening ceremony in Sochi takes place on February 7 - but before things get underway, here we guide you through the Winter Games.

The event is a platform for characters - fom Eddie the Eagle to Torvill and Dean. It's also a place where stories are told - from Cool Runnings to the Miracle on Ice. It's also a place for crazy dress sense, daredevile antics and history to be made.

Ahead of the start of the games in Sochi, we bring you our A-Z guide.