The world’s best short track speed skaters will converge on Montreal following the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, after Canada was provisionally awarded hosting duties for the 2022 ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships by the International Skating Union (ISU).
This prestigious international event – which is slated to take place at the Maurice Richard Arena from March 18-20, 2022 – will be held less than a month after the conclusion of speed skating competitions at the Winter Olympic Games in China’s capital city.
It will mark the third time that Montreal will host this event following the Olympics Games, having previously done so after PyeongChang 2018, Sochi 2014 and Salt Lake City 2002. Canada also hosted the event in Montreal in 1987, Moncton in 1982 and Quebec City in 1979.
When Canada hosted the event in 2018, sell-out crowds witnessed history as Charles Hamelin of Sainte-Julie, Que. became the first Canadian in 20 years to be crowned overall World Champion. Fans also had the opportunity to see Olympic medalists Marianne St Gelais skate in her final international event before announcing her retirement.
Montreal’s bid for the 2022 event was selected by the ISU ahead of those from Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Poland, Krasnoyarsk, Russia and Salt Lake City, USA. The competition will be hosted in Seoul, South Korea in 2020 and Rotterdam, Netherlands in 2021.
A pair of international short track events are scheduled for the Maurice Richard Arena in Montreal this coming season – the World Cup from November 8-10, 2018 and the Four Continents Championships from January 10-12, 2019.
QUOTES
- “Speed Skating Canada is honoured to have the opportunity to once again host a competition of this magnitude. The chance to welcome the world’s best short track skaters following the 2022 Olympic Games, at a time where interest in our sport will be at its highest, is something that will benefit the entire Canadian speed skating community. Our partners at the Fédération de patinage de vitesse du Québec and all three levels of government were instrumental in helping secure this competition and we look forward to working alongside them in the coming years to deliver something memorable.”
- Susan Auch, CEO, Speed Skating Canada
- “The World Championships are the biggest annual competition in our sport. To receive them a few weeks after the Olympics, and for the third consecutive time having done so in 2014 and 2018, shows that the ISU has an incredible amount of confidence in our organization. We look forward to seeing a packed Maurice-Richard Arena in March 2022!”
- Robert Dubreuil, Executive Director, Fédération de patinage de vitesse du Québec
- “Montréal is no stranger to major short track events as it hosted the ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in 2018 and 2014, as well as numerous competitions of different calibers such as World Cups and the World Juniors earlier this year. We are thrilled and honoured to welcome the ISU again in 2022 with a major international event that will provide economic and sport benefits. The hosting of this competition reflects the success of Montréal’s collaborative approach to bid on and organize state-of-the art events. Our organization looks forward to continuing our collaboration with our partners to ensure that all participants enjoy a memorable stay in 2022.”
- Yves Lalumière, President and CEO, Tourisme Montréal