In today’s Nintendo Direct broadcast, Nintendo’s president Satoru Iwata announced that the upcoming Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games will feature online multiplayer competition for several events. These events are freestyle ski cross, snowboard cross, short-track speed skating, and the combination Winter Sports Champion event. Winter Sports Champion is an event that mixes skiing, ice skating, bobsledding, and snowboarding.
Nintendo has set up a miniature Olympics of sorts to go along with the online competition. Players will be able to compete against anybody from around the world (no friend registration needed) and will earn points for their home country whenever they win a medal. The countries will then be ranked in order to spur international competition.
Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games releases on November 15. It can be bought by itself or as part of a bundle that includes a blue Wii Remote Plus controller.