Winter Olympics

1. For many of us, the Winter Olympics is a series of bizarre rituals played out in latex bodysuits somewhere cold on the peripheries of both our interest and understanding. But these are the biggest games in the history of the event and after being in doubt they are going ahead to show the world that terrorists will never win. So pay attention.

2. It's all happening in the US's mostly Mormon state of Utah in the sprawling ragged beauty of the 900 square miles of the Salt Lake Valley and nearby Wasatch Mountains

3. Ok, here's some dimensions: there are more than 2,300 athletes from 80 countries competing in seven different sports (decipher them here) from February 8-24 for the delectation of 1.5m ticket holders and the obligatory global TV audience

4. Today's opening ceremony is at the University of Utah football stadium, where the US president, George Bush, will be among 55,000 spectators. Sting and Bon Jovi are among the acts trying to generate that soaring let's-go-for-it Olympic vibe. But spare a thought for the elks grazing in the nearby hills - there are fears the fireworks might trigger an elk stampede.

5. If things do get a bit tricky on the elk front, don't worry, there is a £214m security operation, which has been pumped up following the terrorism attacks on the US. Organisers claim the security will be unobtrusive, but the 3,500 National Guard troops clutching M16 machine guns, the patrolling Black Hawk combat helicopters and the extra 10,000 security personnel are sure to stick out a bit. Like in James Bond, there are also to be snipers on the slopes and rooftops, and F-16s on alert at a desert runway. While there is no direct, credible threat, organisers will remember the terrorism at previous Summer Olympics, most shockingly at the games in Munich in 1972.

6. Stop sniggering about Eddie "the Eagle" Edwards - Britain has three serious chances of gold medals at these games. Alex Coomber, a 27-year-old RAF intelligence officer, is favourite for gold in the women's skeleton event, which is returning to the games for the first time since 1948. It's a bit like hurtling down a frozen hill at 90mph on a tea tray. (Ms Coomber once told this journalist of being at one skeleton event where a big fluffy St Bernard dog wandered onto the track and collided with the athlete. "The dog was obliterated," she said.)

7. On the Eddie the Eagle front of endearing losers and improbable heroes (his unforgettable ski jump efforts won him a place in British sporting folklore in Calgary in 1988) there are some contenders at this games. Perhaps there is nothing as eye-catchingly unlikely as the Jamaican bobsleigh team (also 1988 contenders). But there are competitors in the 10km cross-country ski race who are from Thailand and Kenya. There's also a skier from Cameroon.

8. Salt Lake City is, of course, the centre of the Mormon faith and 60% of the local population are members. But, before you dust off the polygamy gags, please note the practice of accumulating multiple wives is illegal and most modern Mormons, though not all, support the law. It can, though, be a struggle to get a drink

9. There has been something of an undignified episode with the tattered American flag which survived the World Trade Centre. A row about how prominently it should be featured in the opening ceremonies has garnered page one coverage in the US. The upshot seems to be that flag will take centre stage.

10. And it's a bit nippy. The president of the organising committee, Mitt Romney, appeared with a pair of long johns to stress the importance of keeping cosy. Goodness know what the gods are making of that on Mount Olympus.