Wacky Uniforms Heat Up Olympics Curling Competition
Which country has the most festive outfits -- Norway or Russia?
Feb. 10, 2014— -- intro: The sport of curling has never seen anything like it. Olympic curlers hit the ice today for their first day of competition in Sochi, and the jury's out on who will take the prize for wackiest uniforms.
quicklist:1title:Norway Goes Floraltext:Bucking curling's traditional black pants, Norway's men's team has shown off a series of flamboyant trousers and socks that have Olympics attendees talking.
The team came out for a Saturday practice session donning what they called "rose-painting knickers," according to the Associated Press: knee-length pants with a floral design, flat capts called "sixpences" and soccer socks of the Norwegian national team.
"I hate to say it, they are really comfortable to play in," team member Thomas Ulsrud told the AP. "Nice and loose."
Photo:A Norwegian curler wears rose-painting knickers during curling training at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)media:22437808
quicklist:2title:Patriotic Pantstext:The Norwegians didn't disappoint Sunday.
The country's flag featured prominently in a different uniform team members wore to a training session.
Photo:Norway skip Thomas Ulsrud, second from left, and teammate Torger Nergaard, second from right, share a laugh during a men's curling training session the 2014 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. At right is coach Paal Trulsen. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)media:22437858
quicklist:3title:Norway Comes Out Swingingtext:The Norwegians strutted their stuff in even funkier suits last month.
Photo:Members of the Norway's Men's Olympic Curling Team from left Thomas Ulsrud, Torgor Nergard, Christoffer Svae, and Havard Vad Petersson wear their new Sochi 2014 suits as they pose for a photographer in New York, Jan. 21, 2014. (Cassie Kovacevich/Loudmouth Golf/AP Photo)media:21617215
quicklist:4title:Russia Brings Its A-Gametext:But watch out, Norway. Russia's men's curling team is keeping the competition hot. Their psychedelic red-and-white pants drew lots of looks during practice Saturday.
Photo:Russia's Alexey Stukalskiy watches the stone as his teammates sweep the ice during the first day of the men's curling training at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)media:22437907
quicklist:5title:There's More!text:Norway started the sartorial craziness at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in 2010, when the men's curling team emerged onto the ice with diamond-print pants.
And the best part: Norway's team is expected to don nine different uniforms during this year's round-robin stage, which kicks off today.
Photo:Thomas Ulsrud of Norway slides a stone down the ice during the Curling Men's Gold medal game between Canada and Norway on day 16 of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at the Vancouver Olympic Centre, Feb. 27, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)media:22394342