The speed skating events have been a part of the Winter Olympics since the very first winter games in 1924. The women’s events were added to the Olympic schedule in 1960.
Speed skating was first discovered on canals during the 13th century in Holland, during which time the iron skates on wooden soles were used as transportation. The first known actual speed skating race took place as early as 1676 and the Dutch people shared this sport with their European neighbors.
Speed skating is known as the fastest, non-mechanical athletic sport in the world with skaters reaching and exceeding speeds of more than 60 km/hour. The speed skating event is conducted on a 400m oval ice ring and is timed to exactly one hundredth of a second. The athletes in the speed skating event compete in pairs, skating counter clockwise around the ring and they change lanes once per lap. Which ever skater is in the outside lane has the right of way on the cross over should the skaters arrive at the change point at the same time. The team pursuit was introduced in 2006 during the Torino Winter Olympics. This particular event features two teams of three skaters beginning the race on opposite sides of the track. The teams will take turns with who leads the pack making sure that the remaining team members stay close behind their leader. Once the entire team has crossed the finish line their time will be counted. The event is made up of elimination races leading up to one final race for the gold medal.
There are a number of different races in speed skating that will be a part of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics;
- Men’s 500m
- Men’s 1000m
- Men’s 1500m
- Men’s 5000m
- Men’s 10,000m
- Men’s Team Pursuit
- Women’s Team Pursuit
- Women’s 500m
- Women’s 1000m
- Women’s 1500m
- Women’s 3000m
- Women’s 5000m
During the Vancouver Olympics the speed skating events will be taking place in the brand new Richmond Olympic Oval which is located 14 km’s south of downtown Vancouver. This venue will host all of the speed skating events. The venue capacity is 8,000 and construction began in September of 2005 and was completed in the fall of 2008. The Richmond Olympic Oval project cost was $63.3 million. The Canadian and British Columbia governments funded a portion of this venue and the city of Richmond is responsible for the balance. Here is a look at the sustainable attributes for this particular venue as presented by VANOC (Vancouver Olympic Committee);
- Federal (CEAA) environmental assessment review process
- Targeting LEED Silver certification
- Smart site selection — development of already-disturbed site into legacy community health and recreation complex
- Minimum 2:1 replacement of trees
- Waste heat recovery from refrigeration plant to be used for ice melting, hot water and heating/cooling systems
- All hardwood trees cut during site preparation have been salvaged and are currently stored, awaiting milling for building re-use in the paneling, flooring, furnishings or landscaping features
- Flexible facility design to accommodate varied uses
- Storm water management initiatives include construction of a wetland for on-site storm water treatment and rainwater collection to be re re-used for irrigation and toilet flushing. Rainwater collection system features artwork by Musqueam Nation artist Susan Pointe
Roof structure to be constructed from BC wood, including wood damaged by pine beetle infestation
The Richmond Olympic Oval will include a 400m speed skating track inside of the new 33,750 square foot complex. The inside of the facility will include offices, athlete monitoring equipment and fitness and strength conditioning areas.
The Vancouver Winter Olympics, unlocking the world in 2010.
Enjoy! |
