The winter games include 15 sports, barely more than a third of the summer Olympics. Most of these take a lot of skill and athleticism. Perhaps the weakest of these is curling, but then again what makes golf so great?
Alpine Skiing - 70 to 90 MPH in the downhill; incredible precision in the slalom. Skiing takes skill and strength, and the endurance of 400-800 m athletes; you have to be a great athlete to make the team from the European and North American countries.
Biathlon - an amazing sport to watch; among the most popular in Europe. Marathoner lungs and strength to carry a rifle, while on skis up to 20 km, with precision shooting at targets 50 meters away, all while the clock is ticking.
Bobsleigh - getting more athletic with each Olympics, it's all about the start (and aerodynamics).
Cross Country Skiing - the strength, endurance, and skill required to do this sport puts scrawny unathletic runners to shame.
Curling - see above.
Figure skating - equivalent to gymnastics.
Freestyle Skiing - about like diving and then some; these pepole do some pretty amazing stunts at 40 mph off of huge jumps and all. Don't think it takes an athlete? Try it.
Ice Hockey - it's a big time sport.
Luge - takes nerves and skill to hurl down an icy track at 60-70 mph and not really seeing where you're going.
Nordic Combined - these blokes are nowhere near the level of skiers as in the open events (or usually biathlon), but try jumping the length of a football field one day, at 70 mph and then doing a 15K race the next. Not easy.
Short Track Speed Skating - still new; fun to watch, much more accessible than speed skating.
Skeleton - resurrected event, scarier than luge.
Ski Jumping - they do some awesome things, it's as much of an event as long jumping for sure.
Snowboard - similar to freestyle skiing.
Speed skating - equivalent to swimming.