Q 01/05

How long is a standard long-track speed skating oval?

A) 100 m

B) 200 m

C) 400 m

D) 800 m

Answer · why

C) 400 m

400 m, the same lap as a running track. Skaters go off two at a time and race the clock, so a champion may never share the ice with the runner-up.

Q 02/05

A short-track speed skating oval is marked out on a rink built for which sport?

A) Bandy

B) Curling

C) Ice hockey

D) Ice speedway

Answer · why

C) Ice hockey

Ice hockey: the 111-metre lap fits a standard 60 by 30 metre rink, so any hockey arena can stage short track, while long track needs an oval of its ow...

Q 03/05

In which direction are speed skating races run?

A) Clockwise

B) Counter-clockwise

C) Clockwise for sprints only

D) The host rink decides

Answer · why

B) Counter-clockwise

Counter-clockwise, so every bend is a left turn: short-track skaters lean so far over that they steady themselves with a hand on the ice, and their gl...

Q 04/05

In a short-track speed skating relay, how does a skater usually hand over to a teammate?

A) Passing a baton

B) A push from behind

C) Swapping an armband

D) Crossing a marked line

Answer · why

B) A push from behind

A push from behind: there is no baton, so the incoming skater shoves a crouching teammate to pass on speed, and teams may swap whenever they like exce...

Q 05/05

One of the earliest recorded speed skating races was a 15-mile dash across the Fens of which country?

A) England

B) Norway

C) Scotland

D) Sweden

Answer · why

A) England

England: racing on skates is thought to have begun in the Netherlands centuries earlier, yet one of the earliest races written down crossed the frozen...