As a prelude to the upcoming 2014 games in Sochi, Russia, this survey presents selective summaries of the previous Winter Olympics' history, events, symbols, and controversies. Readers aren't going to come away with more than vague ideas of what most events actually involve ( Slalom is about keeping control all the way down the course ), and a closing chart only lists the broad categories of events but leaves speed skating off altogether. Most pages feature sharp, full-color action photos, plus boxed facts on particular Olympics or olympic stars of the past that go with the single-topic narrative blocks. Hunter adds a chapter on the Winter Paralympics. Following a spread of facts and pictures about the Sochi preparations, back matter includes a table of top medal-winning countries, a world map, and an annotated list again, very selective of relevant websites. Good for readers looking for a quick update or overview.--Peters, John Copyright 2010 Booklist

This straightforward and fairly superficial introduction shows readers how these international competitions developed over the years and concentrates on highlights from skiing, skating, winter team sports, extreme winter sports, and the Winter Paralympics. The discussion includes some drug-related and judging controversies. Color photos, sidebars, and a world map supplement the accessible text. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.