The Winter Olympics are often overshadowed by their Summer Games counterpart and the favoritism is noticeable.

Many people prefer the Summer Olympics because more events are held, more nations participate  and the weather works out better.

According to the Washington Post, the Winter Olympics have 15 sports and the Summer Olympics have 41 sports. The winter games have a total of 98 events and the summer games have hundreds of events.

But more does not mean better.

One reason the Winter Olympics are better than the Summer Olympics is hockey, which will excite any person who watches with its hard-hitting checks, playmaking goal scorers, and the fast pace throughout the game.

The United States Olympic hockey team is favored to win the gold medal this time around after capturing the silver medal in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games.

Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins scored the overtime winner for Canada against the United States in the gold medal final in 2010.

For you big San Jose Sharks fans, forward Joe Pavelski will represent the United States for his second appearance in the winter games. Teammates Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Patrick Marleau will represent Canada and goalie Antii Niemi will represent Finland.

The Winter Games also occupy a lull in the sports world.

In February, not many sporting events are happening that can bring the world together.

The football season concluded with the Super Bowl, soccer in the United States has not started yet and basketball is in the middle of its 82-game grind.

The Winter Olympic events bring excitement to the lull.

I remember watching Bode Miller, an alpine ski racer, in the 2006 Torino Winter Games racing down a snow-filled mountain in Italy going about 20 mph and winning his event. This memory stuck with me because that was my first exposure to the Winter Olympics.

Ever since then, I look forward to watching the events every four years.

According to the Miami Herald, the United States is sending 230 athletes to the Winter Games.

That marks the most for any country competing in Sochi, Russia for the 2014 Games.

The games started Feb. 7 and conclude Feb. 23. Don’t miss them.