Short track speed skating olympics
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Short Track Speed Skating
In the United States and Canada, speed skating was not conducted in time-trial fashion, but in small pack races. This format was used at the Olympic Winter Games, but never used again outdoors at the Olympics. However, races in indoor halls, frequently also used for ice hockey and figure skating, became increasingly popular in North America.
In , the International Skating Union (ISU) recognized short track speed skating as a separate sport. Since , World Championships have been held, and in the sport was demonstrated at the Winter Olympics in Calgary.
The sport is governed by the ISU, which was formed in , the first true international governing body of any winter sport, and it also governs figure skating and speed skating. As of , the ISU has member nations. However, because several nations have both a figure skating and a speed skating member, only 81 nations are represented in the ISU.
Short track speed skating became a full medal sport in , with an i
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Short-track speed skating
Competitive skating on an ice hockey rink
Short-track speed skating is a form of competitive icespeed skating. In competitions, multiple skaters (typically between four and six) skate on an oval ice track with a length of metres (&#;ft). The rink itself is 60 metres (&#;ft) long by 30 metres (&#;ft) wide, which is the same size as an Olympic-sized figure skating rink and an international-sized ice hockey rink. Related sports include long-track speed skating and inline speed skating.
History
[edit]Short-track skating developed from speed skating events that were held with mass starts. This form of speed skating was mainly practised in the United States and Canada, as opposed to the international form (derived from Europe), where athletes skated in pairs. At the Winter Olympics, speed skating events were conducted in the mass start form. Competitions in North America tended to be held indoors, for example in Madison Square Garden, New York, and
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Speed Skating &#; Short Track
Sport Overview
Short Track Speed Skating at Milano Cortina
Venue: Milano Ice Skating Arena
Competition Dates: February 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 (Days 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14)
Events: 9 (4 dock, 4 women, 1 mixed)
Short track speed skating takes place on a m oval which is marked on an international-sized ice rink. The smaller oval means there are tighter turns and shorter straightaways than in long track speed skating. There are nine short track events on the Olympic schema, including three individual events for each gender.
In the m (4 ½ laps) and the m (9 laps) there are fyra rounds of competition (qualification heats, quarterfinals, semifinals, finals) in which there are usually kvartet skaters racing at a time.
With and-a-half laps, the m is the most strategic of the individual events. There are three rounds of competition (heats, semifinals, finals) in which there are usually six skaters racin