What is speed skating?
A: Speed skating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the
competitors race each other in travelling a certain distance on skates.
What are the three types of speed skating?
A: Long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed
skating.
In the Olympic Games, long-track speed skating is
usually referred to as what?
A: Just "speed skating", while short-track speed skating is known as "short
track".
The International Skating Union (ISU), the governing body of competitive ice sports, refers to long track as "speed skating" and short track as "short track skating".
An international federation was founded in 1892, the
first for what?
A: For any winter sport.
Where does the sport enjoy a large popularity?
A: In the Netherlands, Norway and South Korea.
There are top international rinks in a number of other
countries, including what?
A: Canada, the United States, Germany,
Italy,
Japan, Russia, Kazakhstan,
China, Belarus and Poland.
A World Cup circuit is held with events in those
countries plus two events?
A: In the Thialf ice hall in Heerenveen, Netherlands.
The standard rink for long track is how long?
A: 400 meters, but tracks of 200, 250 and 3331⁄3 meters are used
occasionally.
It is one of two Olympic forms of the sport and the
one with the longer what?
A: History.
Short track speed skating takes place on a smaller
rink, normally the size of what?
A: An ice hockey rink, on a 111.12 m oval track.
Distances are shorter than in long-track racing, with
the longest Olympic individual race being how long?
A: 1500 meters.
Events are usually held with a knockout format, with
the best two in heats of four or five qualifying for what?
A: The final race, where medals are awarded.
Disqualifications and falls are not what?
A: Uncommon.
In the regulations of roller sports, how many different
types of mass starts are described?
A: Eight.
There are elimination races, where one or more
competitors are eliminated at what?
A: Fixed points during the course.
There are also simple distance races, which may include
what?
A: Preliminary races; endurance races with time limits instead of a fixed
distance; points races; and individual pursuits.
Races usually have some rules about disqualification if
an opponent is what?
A: Unfairly hindered; these rules vary between the disciplines.
In long track speed skating, almost any infringement on
the pairmate is what?
A: Punished.
Skaters are permitted to change from the inner to the
outer lane out of the final curve if they are not able to do what?
A: To hold the inner curve, as long as they are not interfering with the
other skater.
In mass-start races, skaters will usually be allowed
what?
A: Some physical contact.
Team races are also held; in long track speed skating,
the only team race at the highest level of competition is what?
A: The team pursuit, though athletics-style relay races are held at
children's competitions.