What is the luge mixed team relay event?

The luge mixed team relay is one of nine mixed events that are featuring at Beijing 2022 as the International Olympic Committee continues to work towards increasing gender equality at the Games.

The mixed team really was first introduced to the Olympic programme in 2014, when the German team of Natalie Geisenberger, Felix Loch, Tobias Arlt and Tobias Wendl stormed to the gold medal in Sochi. Germany were victorious again at PyeongChang 2018, and will be the favourites to top the podium in Beijing.

The relay event will be the last of the luge competitions at Beijing 2022, and is scheduled to take place on 10 February 2022. Find out all you need to know about the event here.

The luge mixed team relay made its Olympic debut at Sochi 2014 but has featured at the world championships since 1989.

The event consists of three disciplines: women’s singles, men’s singles and doubles.

The relay starts with the women's singles sled. When the athlete reaches the end of the track, she hits an overhead touchpad to open the start gate for the men's singles sled, who begin their run before striking the touchpad to release the doubles sled that makes the final run down the course.

As soon as the women's singles sled begins its run, the clock starts running and only ends when the doubles sled strikes the touchpad. The winner of the event is the team with the lowest time after all three sleds have finished.

The starting order is determined by the ranking of each nation in reverse order. One team per NOC is allowed to compete in the team relay - one man, one woman, and one doubles team entered in their individual disciplines.

The luge events, as well as all the sliding events, are taking place at the Yanqing National Sliding Centre. The track