The opening ceremony for the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea is on Friday

The 2018 Winter Olympics will officially be opened on Friday, but the games are already underway in PyeongChang, South Korea.

Ahead of the festivities of the opening ceremony, the curling tournament has already begun, while the ski jumping programme has also started.

For the first time at a Winter Games, there are over 100 medalling events – up from 96 four years ago in Sochi, Russia.

Lizzy Yarnold was the only Briton to win gold at the last Winter Games, triumphing in the women’s skeleton, and she will carry the flag for Team GB at the opening ceremony.

The 29-year-old will hope she can defend her title, and there are a host of other potential medallists in the 59-strong Team GB squad.

Speed skater Elise Christie, alpine skier Dave Ryding and both the men’s and women’s curling teams could well pick up medals over the next fortnight.

Chigwell-based Andrew Matthews will also hope to pick up a medal, forming part of one of two Team GB teams entered in the men’s four-man bobsleigh competition.

Katie Ormerod was also expected to be a medal contender in the big air and slopestyle events, but severely fractured her heel on Thursday which ruled the snowboarded out of the Games.

Having collected four medals in total in Sochi four years ago, the Team GB athletes will hope they can improve on that tally in PyeongChang.