Alpine skiing was added to the Olympic program in 1936.

Since 1988, the Olympic Alpine skiing program has consisted of ten medal events, five each for men and women:

• downhill
• super-G
• giant slalom
• slalom
• super combined

The speed events - downhill and super-G - are one-run events, where medals are awarded to the three fastest racers. The technical events - giant slalom and slalom - are two-run events, where medals are awarded to the three fastest racers based on their combined times in the two runs.

Competition change
The only competition change for the 2010 Vancouver Games involves the super-combined. The super-combined incorporates one run each of downhill and slalom, with medals being awarded to the three fastest racers based on their combined times in the two runs. The predecessor to the super-combined - the combined - incorporated one downhill run and two slalom runs.

Age limits
All participants must have turned 15 before the end of the 2010 calendar year to be eligible.