Six new events for Sochi 2014 games

AFP - Six new events, including women's ski jumping, will make their debuts at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, the International Olympic Committee announced on Wednesday.

The other events are the ski halfpipe for men and women, team figure skating, team luge and biathlon mixed relay, meaning an extra 150 athletes will participate in the Russian Black Sea resort city.

IOC president Jacques Rogge said the new events would be appreciated by both athletes and spectators.

"They are interesting sports, which complement perfectly the existing programme and increase the number of women taking part in the Olympic Games," Rogge said.

The IOC executive board, however, delayed a decision on five other sports up for approval: slopeside events in snowboard and freestyle skiing for men and women, and a team alpine skiing event.

IOC sports director Christophe Dubi said a decision would now be made at the end of May [or] beginning of June after fresh feasibility studies at the proposed sites in Sochi.