Mike Hay pictured at a Clan Hay Society event in London's Caledonian Club

Although the opening ceremony doesn't take place until later this afternoon, the Winter Olympics in Sochi are now well underway and Great Britain's team, led by Chef de Mission Mike Hay, has already seen some initial success.

Mike, a member of the Clan Hay Society who is originally from Perthshire and is now resident in London, said, "needless to say I was honoured and delighted to be asked by Lord Coe, the British Olympic Association Chairman,  and his board to be the Chef de Mission for the Sochi Winter Olympic Games."

Mike believes that the squad of 56 athletes he has taken to Sochi is one of the strongest Great Britain has mustered in living memory.  The team, which includes four reigning world champions, has been set a target of three medals, something Great Britain has not achieved since the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch.

Mike is himself a champion curler and coached the women's curling team that won the gold medal at the Winter Olympics in 2002.  We wish him and his team in Sochi every success in the coming two weeks.