The 2014 Winter Olympics started on Thursday, February 6 with qualification rounds for a few events, but the opening ceremony began on Friday. So far these games have been overshadowed by the political issues surrounding Russia and the construction issues as well. The United States are not expected to have success as they did in the summer of 2012 in London or the winter of 2010 in Vancouver.

In a projected medal count by Sports Illustrated, the U.S. is projected to finish second behind Norway with 34 total medals, 13 of them being gold. They fall three medals short of Vancouver’s performance.

With a few key athletes missing from the 2010 Olympics, the U.S. had some shoes to fill. Lindsey Vonn is recovering from a knee injury, and the most decorated American Olympian is also gone, Apolo Ohno. Other American athletes headlining the Olympics include snowboarder Shaun White and speed skater Shani Davis, both attempting to become the first American men to win three gold medals in a single event. In Alpine Skiing, Sports Illustrated is predicting Ted Ligety to finish with a silver medal.

Other U.S. athletes projected to win gold include Ted Ligety in the combined Alpine Skiing event, Mikaela Shiffrin in the slalom, the four-man bobsled team led by Steve Holcomb, Shaun White in the halfpipe for snowboarding and Shani Davis in the 1,000 meter speed skate.

   Mikaela Shiffrin, 18, has been turning heads with her performance in Alpine Skiing. With Vonn out, she has to fill her shoes. She has won six of the last 10 World Cup slaloms contested. Tim Layden of Sports Illustrated had an interview with her coach, Roland Pfeifer.

“She’s so young, but mentally she’s one of the strongest skiers on the whole circuit,” Pfeifer said.

Even though there is a big spotlight on the United States, other countries like Norway, Canada and the host- Russia are supposed to make some big news throughout the month.

Norway boasts the men’s best Alpine Skier in the world in Aksel Lund Svindal. They also have a rich Winter Olympic history with the most total medals and most gold medals in Winter Olympic history.

Russia has a men’s hockey team poised for the podium after years of disappointment. Their last gold medal was in 1992. Alexander Ovechkin, a prolific goal scorer, has not yet won a medal, but is expected to lead Team Russia to gold.

Our neighbor to the north is projected to finish third in the medal count, according to Sports Illustrated. The Canadian Olympic Committee announced that they will be sending their largest team ever in Canadian history. Exactly 221 athletes will compete under the Canadian flag.

Spectators should expect very competitive events from top to bottom.