I really believe the evening setting of some of these Sochi event makes them all the more spectacular. The Sanki Sliding Centre has the floodlights glinting off the ice as the twin bullets of the doubles luge hurtle their combined way down the mountain.

Image source, Getty Images

Steve Cram
BBC Sport curling commentator

"A steal for GB, and so they extend their lead. A good start made from the team against Switzerland."

The Ice Cube curling arena holds four sheets, four separate playing areas allowing a quartet of matches to be played at once. The four white rectangles have scoring areas at each end - imagine the Mod sign on the cycling helmet of Bradley Wiggins. Great Britain steal one at the end of the fourth end, taking a 2-0 lead and the hammer into the fifth end.

The doubles luge - clinging on to your mate at 85mph - has got back under way. The pairs are heading on in reverse order from the first run, so the top teams will be heading out last. You can watch live at top of this page.

Image source, Reuters

Nick Hope
BBC Sport at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park in Sochi

"Literally just bumped into a Prince ... Prince Hubertus von Hohenlohe to be specific...

"If you're not familiar with the man then he's a 55-year-old skier for Mexico and been described as 'the most interesting' athlete at the Olympics.

He's a photographer, a musician and shall be competing at the Games in a skin-tight Mariachi costume.

"If you can't be fast then you might as well be stylish," he tells me.

Steve Cram
BBC Sport curling commentator

"David Murdoch had a chance for two but didn't take it. GB have taken a lead but it has been a quiet start to this match against Switzerland."

It's been a sedate opening to this match, but Great Britain have taken a slender lead in the third end. In doing so, they have given the hammer to Switzerland.

My curling theory? I'm hearing there's rules against it. I knew there must have been a reason.

Eleanor Oldroyd
BBC Radio 5 live presenter

Heading for the mountains hoping to see James Woods, Lizzy Yarnold and Shelley Rudman bring home the bacon.

No score after two ends between Great Britain and Switzerland. The British have the hammer once again in the third. I'm no expert, but, if you have the hammer, could you not simply keep knocking your opponents' preceding stone off the ice, blanking out each end until the final one, then roll your final stone into the scoring area? Would that work?

I was told earlier today that the Dutch speed skating heritage began by skating between frozen canals. Maybe I could try it on the Trent & Mersey.

That's a fourth speed skating gold from five events at these Games for the Netherlands. A bigger story, though, is the failed attempt at history by America's Shani Davis.

The Netherlands' speed skating success continues as Stefan Groothuis takes gold in the men's 1000m. It was a Dutch one-three as Michel Mulder won bronze, with Canada's Denny Morrison taking silver.

Will Perry
BBC Radio 5 live reporter

Image source, Will Perry

Hear my interview with the lovely Chemmy Alcott on BBC Radio 5 live later.

We will not be seeing Winter Olympic history in the men's 1000m speed skating. Shani Davis, the two-time champion, will not become the first athlete to win gold at three successive Winter Games. He can only manage seventh with two pairs to go.

Image source, Getty Images

It's heating up on the ice in the men's 1000m speed skating. Dutch athlete Stefan Groothuis has just smashed the rink record to take the lead from Germany's Samuel Schwarz. We should see some drama now as the handful of athletes left to skate are the highest ranked in the field. The medal places could change hands swiftly.

Matthew Pinsent
BBC Sport reporter in Sochi

Image source, Matthew Pinsent

On Twitter:, external Here's the exact finish line of the sliding track. Electronic timing beam in the tube buried in the ice.

Doubles luge - the most dangerous cuddle you can ever have. If you thought that was good, tomorrow is the team luge relay. How amazing does that sound?

Image source, Getty Images

So Germany's Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt lead after the first run of the luge doubles. They are 0.312 seconds ahead of Austrian brothers Andreas and Wolfgang Linger, who are aiming to win the competition for the third successive Winter Olympics.

Another Austrian pairing, Peter Penz and Georg Fischler, are third, 0.420secs behind the Germans.

All 19 teams will go in reverse order in the second run, which will start at 15:45 GMT, so Wendl and Arlt will be last to go. The medals will be decided today.

Thanks, Lawrence. I arrive with more curling. Great Britain's men are just beginning their match against Switzerland. Can you handle more drama?