Press Release
Fans go wild for short-track skaters; 180 of the world's best skaters are in Vancouver
The Vancouver Province
Sun 26 Oct 2008
Page: A15
Section: News
Byline: John Colebourn
Source: The Province
Vancouver Island resident Coleen Heenan knows where she will be when the Olympics arrive in 15 months.
She'll be back at the Pacific Coliseum, the same place she was yesterday, watching the world's best short-track speed skaters.
About 180 of the world's best are in Vancouver this weekend competing in the pre-Olympic Samsung ISU World Cup.
A crowd of 3,000 took in the day's events -- the first time a world-class short-track speed skating event has been held in B.C.
As the fans went wild when Canadian speed-skating star Charles Hamelin beat American star Apolo Anton Ohno in the men's 1,000-metre short-track final to take first, Heenan said she plans on getting tickets for the Olympic short-track events taking place at the Coliseum.
"People who see this will definitely come back," she said of the events that had their share of competitors crashing into the corner pads. "Why wouldn't they?
"With this sport, you never know what is going to happen," she said of the skaters who took some good, big crashes.
Heenan also said the crowd was starting to understand what the sport was all about after just a few heats.
"The announcers are doing a great job explaining the events to the public," she said.
In order to run the events, the Coliseum had some modifications. The boards for hockey have been taken out and replaced with thick padding in case the competitors lose an edge.
The ice has been closely monitored to try to ensure it is going to be the same temperature and hardness as actual Olympic ice.
"This is a very exciting sport when you see it live," said Jessica Smythe, 32, of Vancouver, who was at the event with friends.
Smythe said she often goes to Vancouver Giants hockey games at the Coliseum and wanted to see what speed skating was like live.
"Now that I've seen it live, I want tickets for these Olympic events," she said.
For the competitors, the three-day event was a chance to see what is in store once the Olympics come in 15 months.
American J.R. Celski, who placed fourth in the men's 1,500-metre final, said they are preparing now to help them when they come again for the Olympics.
"This is a big test event for us," he said. He said he liked the ice surface, noting it "has more grip to it."
Tim Gayda, VANOC's vice-president of sport, said the test event has gone off very well.
"We couldn't be happier."
Fans go wild for short-track skaters; 180 of the world's best skaters are in Vancouver
The Vancouver Province
Sun 26 Oct 2008
Page: A15
Section: News
Byline: John Colebourn
Source: The Province
Vancouver Island resident Coleen Heenan knows where she will be when the Olympics arrive in 15 months.
She'll be back at the Pacific Coliseum, the same place she was yesterday, watching the world's best short-track speed skaters.
About 180 of the world's best are in Vancouver this weekend competing in the pre-Olympic Samsung ISU World Cup.
A crowd of 3,000 took in the day's events -- the first time a world-class short-track speed skating event has been held in B.C.
As the fans went wild when Canadian speed-skating star Charles Hamelin beat American star Apolo Anton Ohno in the men's 1,000-metre short-track final to take first, Heenan said she plans on getting tickets for the Olympic short-track events taking place at the Coliseum.
"People who see this will definitely come back," she said of the events that had their share of competitors crashing into the corner pads. "Why wouldn't they?
"With this sport, you never know what is going to happen," she said of the skaters who took some good, big crashes.
Heenan also said the crowd was starting to understand what the sport was all about after just a few heats.
"The announcers are doing a great job explaining the events to the public," she said.
In order to run the events, the Coliseum had some modifications. The boards for hockey have been taken out and replaced with thick padding in case the competitors lose an edge.
The ice has been closely monitored to try to ensure it is going to be the same temperature and hardness as actual Olympic ice.
"This is a very exciting sport when you see it live," said Jessica Smythe, 32, of Vancouver, who was at the event with friends.
Smythe said she often goes to Vancouver Giants hockey games at the Coliseum and wanted to see what speed skating was like live.
"Now that I've seen it live, I want tickets for these Olympic events," she said.
For the competitors, the three-day event was a chance to see what is in store once the Olympics come in 15 months.
American J.R. Celski, who placed fourth in the men's 1,500-metre final, said they are preparing now to help them when they come again for the Olympics.
"This is a big test event for us," he said. He said he liked the ice surface, noting it "has more grip to it."
Tim Gayda, VANOC's vice-president of sport, said the test event has gone off very well.
"We couldn't be happier."