Why new Pyeongchang 2018 events are very good news for Team Canada

The International Olympic Committee has added four new events to the Olympic calendar for Pyeongchang 2018 and they are all good news for Canada.

Here are the four events being added to the next Olympic Winter Games:

Curling mixed doubles

It’s curling. There is no need to explain why another medal possibility in this event is good news for Canada. Suffice it to say the fine people at Curling Canada are rubbing their hands with glee this morning.

Snowboard big air

With high-flying snowboarders such as Mark McMorris, Max Parrot and many others in the Canada Snowboard factory, the maple leaf would be well positioned to fly at the inaugural Olympic podium in big air.

Speed skating mass start

Ivanie Blondin in the mass start in the 2014-15 World Cup season (photo: ISU).

Ivanie Blondin in the mass start in the 2014-15 World Cup season (photo: ISU).

The consistency of speed skater Ivanie Blondin in women’s mass start bodes very well for Canada. Blondin won the overall World Cup title in the 2014-15 season and was a regular on the mass start medal podium during the circuit representing Speed Skating Canada.

Alpine skiing team event

Erin Mielzynski (left) ahead of her Swedish opponent in the mixed team event at the 2015 worlds.

Erin Mielzynski (left) ahead of her Swedish opponent in the mixed team event at the 2015 worlds.

At the latest FIS World Championships, Alpine Canada skiers as a team took the silver medal in Beaver Creek, Colorado with Candace Crawford, Erin Mielzynski, Phil Brown and Trevor Philp beating powerhouse nations Germany and Italy along the way.

While nothing is ever certain and these additions won’t guarantee Canada more medals at the next Olympic Winter Games, the respective sport federations for each event is certainly poised to have a good chance at the podium with top calibre athletes.