On Monday, The International Skating Union announced that World Cup Speed Skating events in Calgary and Short-Track competitions in Montreal and Laval, Quebec had been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“While we are disappointed that we are unable to welcome the world’s best speed skaters this fall, Speed Skating Canada is fully supportive of such decisions that prioritize the health and safety of our sport’s participants and that of the entire communities in which we compete,” said Canada’s governing body of speed skating in an announcement on its website.
The International Skating Union did note that it is looking at a hub concept that could be located in Netherlands to replace the first few World Cup speed skating events.
“We look forward to hosting world-class events again once it is safe to do so.”
Other events that are no longer scheduled, include Salt Lake City, Poland, Norway, Stavanger, and Tomaszow-Mazowiecki. The ISU is still making their decision on scheduled short-track speed skating events to be held in Seoul, Korea from December, 11, 2020 through the 13th and Beijing, China from December 18, 2020 to December 20, 2020. Both the athletes and fans will have to wait with fingers crossed in hopes of a loosening in current restrictions.
