The Pyeongchang Winter Olympics donB次元官网网址檛 officially open until Friday but a couple of Canadians were already in competition mode Thursday.

Doubles curlers John Morris and Kaitlyn Lawes opened the Games with a disappointing 9-6 loss to NorwayB次元官网网址檚 Kristin Skaslien and Magnus Nedregotten before rebounding with a 6-4 win over Americans Becca and Matt Hamilton.

The event is making its debut in Pyeongchang, and despite CanadaB次元官网网址檚 curling dominance, the country isnB次元官网网址檛 considered the gold-medal favourite.

Both OttawaB次元官网网址檚 Morris and WinnipegB次元官网网址檚 Lawes are Olympic gold medallists in curling but they had little experience playing mixed doubles together prior to winning JanuaryB次元官网网址檚 trials.

WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 games came down to tight finishes. The Norwegians stole two in the eighth end to seal the victory in the opener, while Morris needed to place a perfect draw to the button in the final end in the win over the United States.

B次元官网网址淥bviously wanted to start off with a win, but itB次元官网网址檚 a long week thankfully,B次元官网网址� said Lawes. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l come back stronger.B次元官网网址�

Lawes said she and Morris had B次元官网网址渁 couple key misses here and there.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚f we can turn those full misses into at least half shots then weB次元官网网址檒l have a little bit more success,B次元官网网址� she added.

Morris said he and Lawes are still figuring out the ice.

B次元官网网址淭he ice was nice and consistent, but I have to make sure I throw to my tolerance a bit more so that if I do miss, itB次元官网网址檚 not a killer miss,B次元官网网址� he said.

FOLLOW:

Morris, 39, won Olympic gold in 2010 playing third for Kevin Martin. Lawes, 29, won gold in 2014 as vice for Jennifer Jones.

B次元官网网址淭o be able to slide over the Olympic rings and to feel as though weB次元官网网址檙e part of something historic is really powerful and special,B次元官网网址� said Lawes. B次元官网网址滻tB次元官网网址檚 something IB次元官网网址檒l never forget. IB次元官网网址檓 really proud and honoured to be a part of this.B次元官网网址�

Also on Thursday, former NHL veteran Chris Kelly was named captain of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 menB次元官网网址檚 hockey team.

Kelly, who helped the Boston Bruins win a Stanley Cup in 2011 and most recently played with the Ottawa Senators, will be tasked with leading Canada in its quest for a third straight Olympic menB次元官网网址檚 hockey title.

B次元官网网址淪uch a great honour,B次元官网网址� Kelly said. B次元官网网址淎nd very humbling. ThereB次元官网网址檚 so many great people in that locker room who could ultimately be wearing it. ItB次元官网网址檚 a thrill.B次元官网网址�

Meanwhile, CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Manuel Osborne-Paradis posted the fastest time in the first Olympic downhill training session.

Osborne-Paradis, from Invermere, B.C., finished in one minute 40.45 seconds in breezy, sunny conditions at the Jeongseon Alpine Centre. HeB次元官网网址檚 making his fourth appearance at the Winter Olympics.

NorwayB次元官网网址檚 Kjetil Jansrud was second in 1:40.76 and SwitzerlandB次元官网网址檚 Mauro Caviezel was third in 1:40.90.

Additional training sessions were scheduled for Friday and Saturday ahead of SundayB次元官网网址檚 race.

In ski jumping, CalgaryB次元官网网址檚 Mackenzie Boyd-Clowes advanced to the competition phase of the menB次元官网网址檚 normal hill competition, placing 23rd in qualifying with a score of 114.6. GermanyB次元官网网址檚 Andreas Wellinger led all jumpers at 133.5 points.

Outside competition, the norovirus outbreak at Olympic venues continued to threaten the Games. The number of confirmed cases grew to 128 by Thursday evening, with 42 new instances.

None of the cases are athletes, and the COC said no Canadian staff members have been affected.

B次元官网网址�(Athletes have) trained eight to 12 years for this one moment in time when they can prove and perform, and of course itB次元官网网址檚 a tragedy if they get derailed by injury or illness. A lot of focus has been on injury coming into the Games, but an illness can derail you the same way,B次元官网网址� Canadian Olympic Committee medical director Dr. Bob McCormack said.

And CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Olympic team apologized, sort of, for a reported spat at a cafeteria between a Canadian and a Russian.

COC executive director of sport Eric Myles did not reveal whether the Canadian involved was an athlete, coach or support personnel, or exactly what was said.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an incident, a cafeteria discussion that happened earlier in the week,B次元官网网址� Myles said. B次元官网网址漈his morning we had an opportunity to have a discussion between the two organizations and everything is OK.

B次元官网网址淲e said B次元官网网址楬ey, if something happened, weB次元官网网址檙e sorry.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

The Canadian Press

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