The first events got under way at the Sochi Winter Olympics on Thursday, with Britain's Billy Morgan the first competitor in action in snowboarding, AFP reports. Morgan, 24, was taking part in the slopestyle qualification event at the snowboard park at Rosa Khutor. The first Russian to take part in Sochi was Alexey Sobolev who was the ninth man down the course. "The conditions are good and I can't complain. It would be great if the park stays as it is after the Olympics so we can train here," he said. Women's freestyle skiing and team figure skating also start on Thursday and alpine skiiers will be training ahead of the official opening ceremony on Friday. Security at the February 7-23 Games has been a major concern following two deadly December suicide attacks in the southern Russian city of Volgograd. Adding to that unease is a stream of threats from Islamist militants in the volatile northern Caucasus region.
The first events got under way at the Sochi Winter Olympics on Thursday, with Britain's Billy Morgan the first competitor in action in snowboarding, AFP reports.
Morgan, 24, was taking part in the slopestyle qualification event at the snowboard park at Rosa Khutor.
The first Russian to take part in Sochi was Alexey Sobolev who was the ninth man down the course.
"The conditions are good and I can't complain. It would be great if the park stays as it is after the Olympics so we can train here," he said.
Women's freestyle skiing and team figure skating also start on Thursday and alpine skiiers will be training ahead of the official opening ceremony on Friday.
Security at the February 7-23 Games has been a major concern following two deadly December suicide attacks in the southern Russian city of Volgograd.
Adding to that unease is a stream of threats from Islamist militants in the volatile northern Caucasus region.