Hamar, Norway set to welcome FISU Championship Speed Skating to the Viking Ship

Vikingskipet (the Viking Ship Olympic Arena) in Hamar, Norway is set to welcome the world’s top university speed skaters as the Hamar 2024 FISU World University Championship Speed Skating is ready to go from 22-25 February. This will be the third time Norway is hosting a FISU Championship, with Trondheim having hosted orienteering in 1988 and 1998, but the first time it’s hosting speed skating.

Nestled on the shores of Lake Mjøsa, Hamar is a town of approximately 30,000 residents and is no stranger to welcoming major events to its oval. Vikingskipet, the venue’s earned due to its resemblance to a Viking vessel, has hosted multiple World Cup events and was the venue for the 1994 Lillehammer Olympic Winter Games, where Norwegian Johan Olav Koss dominated with three gold medals and three world records. 1994 was also only the second time Olympic speed skating had been held indoors to that point, following Calgary in 1988.

Now the top university athletes from around the world are on their way to Hamar to compete in the 7^th edition of the FISU Championship Speed Skating. This on the heels of the last two FISU speed skating events having been held in Lake Placid, USA with the FISU Games of January 2023 and the 2022 FISU Championship Speed Skating. At both events the Japanese came away on top of the medal standings with 14 earned one year ago, and eight back in 2022.

The opening ceremony takes place the evening of 21 February and competition in eight disciplines will follow over the four days of the event.

• 500m – (women and men)
• 1000m – (women and men)
• 1500m – (women and men)
• 3000m – (women)
• 5000m – (men)
• Mass start – (women and men)
• Team pursuit – (women and men)
• Mixed team relay

Athletes from 13 countries and four continents are expected to participate, including those from ten European nations, and from as far away as Australia, Japan, and the United States. Competition for those athletes opens Thursday 22 February with the women’s 1000m at 14:00 local time in Hamar, and is followed that day by the men’s 1000m, the women’s 3000m, and the men’s 5000m.

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Written by Doug McLean