<P> Skeleton is a winter sliding sport in which a person rides a small sled, known as a skeleton bobsled (or - sleigh), down a frozen track while lying face down and head - first . The sport and the sled may have been named from the bony appearance of the sled . </P> <P> Unlike other sliding sports of bobsleigh and luge, the race always involves single riders . Like bobsleigh, but unlike luge, the race begins with a running start from the opening gate at the top of the course . The skeleton sled is thinner and heavier than the luge sled, plus skeleton gives the rider more control making it safer than luge . Skeleton is the slowest of the three sliding sports, as skeleton's face down head - first riding position is less aerodynamic than luge's face up, feet - first ride . </P> <P> Previously, skeleton appeared in the Olympic program in St. Moritz, Switzerland, in 1928 and again in 1948 . It was added permanently to the Olympic program for the 2002 Winter Olympics, at which stage a women's race was added . </P> <P> During elite racing the rider experiences forces up to 5 g and reaches speeds over 130 km / h (80 mph). </P>

When did skeleton get added to the olympics