Since 1924, when the first Winter Olympic Games were held, speed skating has been an official sport. Speed skating’s formal governing organization, the International Skating Union (ISU), was recognized as a federation when the International Olympic Committee was established.
The first ever speed skating competition at a Winter Olympic Games was scheduled to take place in Berlin during the Summer Olympics in 1916, but the competitions were postponed due to the end of World War One.
There were five different speed skating events in a competition known as the 1924 Winter Olympics, which was held in Chamonix during the International Winter Sports Week.
These contests included consistently well-run races across the board and medals awarded for individual distances. This all-around competition was discontinued in 1928. The renowned single-distance World Championships were first held in 1996.
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Pathway For Athlete Eligibility And Qualification
Athlete eligibility is crucial as the next speed skating Winter Olympics get closer. The Olympic Charter must be followed for competitors to participate in speed skating at the Winter Olympic Games. The Olympic charter Rule 41, which outlines an athlete’s nationality, is crucial.
The ISU regulations for each event serve as the foundation for the Special Olympic qualifying classification (SOQC), which is typically determined.
In the SOQC, there are two different sets of rankings: the SOQC times ranking, which is based on the best times each skater has achieved in a World Cup competition, and the SOQC points ranking, which is based on the results of the World Cup competitions.
The International Skating Union will apply the procedures established in the ISU World Cup Communication rulebook to choose a winner if the times ranking and point ranking are tied.
Events For Both Men And Women
The first-ever women’s events in the Winter Olympics began in 1960, even though speed skating was already acknowledged as a sport for competition.
According to the National Olympic Committees (NOCs), there is always a maximum number of competitors for both men and women, and the overall number of skaters competing cannot exceed the total number of quota seats granted.
Host nations
The Winter Olympic Games in speed skating have taken place in 22 locations. Events were held outside on natural ice at the inaugural speed skating Winter Olympic Games. The latest venue to hold an event that took place outside was Albertville.
In Calgary, an indoor arena was built in 1988. All previous long track speed skating competitions have been held inside since the speed skating competitions at the 1994 Winter Olympic Games.
Other venues that have hosted the speed skating Winter Olympic Games include the Oval Lingotto in Turin (2006), the Adler Arena Skating Center in Sochi (2014), and the Gangeneug Oval, which will hold the 2018 PyeongChang Games.