What is Short Track Speed Skating?

Short track speed skating is a form of competitive ice speed skating. In competitions, multiple skaters (typically between four and six) skate on an oval ice track with a length of 111.12 metres (364.6 ft). 

In 1967, the International Skating Union (ISU) adopted short track speed skating, although it did not organize international competitions until 1976.

Short track speed skating was introduced as a demonstration sport at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta in Canada. It was upgraded to a full Olympic sport in 1992 and has been part of the Winter Olympics ever since.

The events are the same for both men and women: 500 meters, 1000 meters, 1500 meters, plus the relay event (5000 meters for men, 3000 meters for women). Starting with the 2018-2019 World Cup Season, a 2000 meter mixed team relay was added, appearing at the 2022 Winter Olympics. 

Team Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong has sent a team to the Winter Olympics at every Games since 2002, starting with Short Track Speed Skaters Cordia Tsoi Poi Yee and Christy Ren. Hong Kong has qualified Short Track Speed Skaters at the 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2022 Winter Olympics. Han Yueshuang represented Hong Kong at the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics, Barton Lui represented Hong Kong at the 2014 Olympics and Sidney Chu represented Hong Kong at the 2022 Winter Olympics. Under the support of the Hong Kong Skating Union and Hong Kong Sports Institute, Hong Kong Short Track Speed Skaters have become a force to be reckoned with on the international stage -- obtaining impressive results at elite Asian and International competitions.

Currently, there is no Olympic-sized (30m x 60m) ice rink in Hong Kong. All ISU-sanctioned Short Track Speed Skating competitions, including the World Cup Series and Winter Olympic Games, must be held in an Olympic sized ice rink. Furthermore, in ISU-sanctioned competitions, a set of moveable safety padding of an approved thickness must be in place around the ice rink. Ice rink size matters so that skaters have enough space to manoeuvre when skating at high speeds and, in the case of a fall, provides ample distance and time before crashing into the pads. However, many skaters in other countries (such as the United States) still conduct regular training in ice rinks smaller than Olympic-sized but no smaller than NHL-sized (26m x 57m). The NHL-size ice rink is the minimum rink size condition needed for a standard 111.12m oval skating track. Currently, there are three NHL-size (or larger) ice rinks in Hong Kong, including: Discovery Bay Ice Rink, MegaIce (MegaBox) and LOHAS Ice Rink.