Speed Skating Canada – The 2018 Short Track Team Selections will conclude on Sunday at Montreal’s Maurice-Richard Arena

Montreal, August 17, 2017 – The first Canadian short track speed skaters who will represent the country at the 2018 Olympic Games will be announced following the last day of racing at the 2018 Short Track Team Selections, on Sunday, August 20 starting at 10:50 a.m. at Montreal’s Maurice-Richard Arena.

On this occasion, fans who like action-packed sports with many twists and turns are invited to attend a last day of competition that is sure to be filled with drama and emotion, as the 16 male skaters and 16 female skaters in action will battle for one last time, after the first four days of racing, in order to defend or go for points that they will need so as to clinch one of the first three spots per gender allotted for the PyeongChang Games.

Tickets are available through a link available at www.speedskating.ca or at the door for $15 on Sunday, August 20. Admission is free for kids who are 12 years old and under.

Activities and Olympic Games mascots

This special day of competition will start out at 10:50 am and with free coffee being handed out, courtesy of Folgers, as well as Rekarb maple-flavoured energy drinks.

Also, during intermissions, fans will be able to get to know more about Korean culture and the 2018 Olympic Games as the Korean Cultural Centre will have an information booth on site as well as a hockey-themed game, while the South Korea Tourism Organization will give you the opportunity to visit PyeongChang through virtual reality. Kids will also be able to have fun and have their picture taken with the 2018 Olympic Games mascot, Soohorang, and the Paralympic Games mascot, Bandabi.

Speed Skating Canada’s new partner, Nagano Skate, will also be on hand to present its products.

At the end of the competition, Speed Skating Canada will present its first three male skaters and three female skaters who have qualified for the PyeongChang Games, along with approximately 25 Canadian short track and long track Olympians who have been bright spots for the sport of speed skating in past Games.

Selection process

At the end of the competition, the first three women in overall Selections standings, which will take into account points from the top two races from the top two distances for a total of four races out of nine, will be named to the team that will compete at the PyeongChang Games.

On the men’s side, first place will go to the skater who is highest in the standings while taking into account the top two races out of three in the 500m and the top two races out of three in the 1000m. The two spots that follow will be attributed to the highest-placed skaters according to the same overall Selections standings process that is in effect on the women’s side.

Skaters will also be looking to place well in the standings in hopes of being able to skate in the individual distance events at the Games.

The complete policy and Olympic selection process as well as a one-page summary are available in the special section that can be found on Speed Skating Canada’s website at www.speedskating.ca.

The schedule and full details are available at www.speedskating.ca/.

About Speed Skating Canada

“To Challenge and Inspire Canada to Thrive through the power of Speed Skating”

Speed Skating Canada (SSC) is the governing body for competitive long track and short track speed skating in Canada. Founded in 1887, the association is comprised of 13 provincial and territorial branches representing more than 14,000 individual members, and counting. SSC believes that sport is an apprenticeship for life and prizes respect for others, integrity, excellence of effort, as well as a safe, healthy environment. SSC recognizes and values its outstanding volunteers who give freely of their time and expertise. It also celebrates the 63 Olympic medals won by Canadian athletes since 1932, as well as the coaches, officials and other dedicated individuals who helped them on their journey.

Speed Skating Canada would like to thank its sponsors:

Premium partner: Intact Insurance

Funding partners: Government of Canada (Sport Canada), Own The Podium, Canadian Olympic Committee

Official On-Ice High Performance Apparel: Li-Ning

Long Track Team Sponsor: KIA

Official Suppliers: Auclair, USANA

Sport Development Partners: Winsport Canada, Calgary’s Olympic Oval, University of Calgary, Institut national du sport du Québec, Government of Quebec, Canadian Sport Institute-Calgary, City of Montreal, Quebec City, Excellence sportive Québec-Lévis

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For information:

Patrick Godbout

Communications & Media Relations Manager

Speed Skating Canada

Email: pgodbout@speedskating.ca

Phone: 514 213-9897

Website: www.speedskating.ca 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SSC.PVC

Twitter: www.twitter.com/SSC_PVC