Olympics Preview: The basics

Though a few events have already begun, the Olympics officially kick off with tomorrow’s Opening Ceremony (starting at 6:30 a.m. ET, set your alarm) and will run through the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, February 20th. The Paralympic Winter Games will take place between March 4th and March 13th.

• The Games will feature 109 events across 15 disciplines in seven winter sports, including seven new winter events making their Olympic debuts. More on those in a bit.

• Ninety countries will be represented in Beijing, with Haiti and Saudi Arabia sending their first-ever Winter Olympics delegations. And those 90 countries are sending nearly 3,000 athletes to live out their five-ring dreams.