Sochi 2014: The Countdown Series: Debuting Nations

17 days remaining until the opening ceremonies (16 until the first day of competition) at Sochi 2014. Up next on the countdown: first time nations.

In the 21 previous winter Olympic games, over one hundred nations have sent an athlete who have qualified for at least one event. At Sochi, seven nations will make their winter games debut.

• Dominica: two in cross country, Gary di Silvestri (15 km classical) and Angelica di Silvestri (10km classical)
• Malta: one in Alpine, Elise Pellegrin (slalom and giant slalom)
• Paraguay: one in freestyle, Julia Marino, slopestyle
• Timor Leste: one in Alpine, Yohan Goult Goncalves (slalom)
• Togo: two in Alpine and cross country, Alessia Afi Dipol (giant slalom and slalom) and Mathilde Amivi Petitjean (10km classical)
• Tonga: one in luge, Bruno Banani (singles)
• Zimbabwe: one in Alpine, Luke Steyn (giant slalom and slalom)

They are among 90 nations that will have at least one representative at Sochi.

Up next: ice hockey preview

London 2012: The Countdown Series: Zimbabwe

49 days to go until the first day of the London Olympics. Up next on the parade of nations: Zimbabwe (ZIM).

Zimbabwe has participated in the summer Olympics since 1980; a total of eight medals have been won by Zimbabwean athletes in the summer games.

The first medal for Zimbabwe in the Olympics came at Moscow 1980, when the women's (field) hockey team defeated Czechoslovakia in the final for the gold medal.

After Moscow, nothing worthy for Zimbabwe in the summer games, until...Athens 2004. The second summer games where Zimbabwe won a gold. It was at those games where Kirsty Coventry (pictured) won her first of two gold medals in the 200m backstroke (swimming). She also won the 200m backstroke (swimming) final at Beijing 2008 as well. Coventry also won four silvers and a bronze, all at either Athens 2004 or Beijing 2008. Coventry accounted for 87% of Zimbabwe's summer games medals and is looking for more (hopefully) at London in over a month.

As of now, eight Zimbabweans (Coventry included) will compete in four events, including swimming (as aformentioned), athletics, triathlon and rowing.

The parade of nations shall end with the host country-Great Britain. It is basically a three-parter!

Bungee Jump Went Wrong.

Horrifying scene of a bungee jump going wrong in the Zambezi River, Zimbabwe.

Thankfully the Aussie tourist survived, and managed to tell about this near-fatal sacrifice in an interview with Nine News.