Toronto to get its first-ever taste of the excitement of an ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cup November 6-8 Français
TORONTO, Nov. 3, 2015 /CNW/ - For the very first time in city history, Toronto will host an international speed skating event as the best short track skaters in the world will compete at MasterCard Centre, November 6-8, as part of the second stage of the 2015-2016 ISU World Cup season.
After the first World Cup of the season was held last week in Montreal, a total of 156 athletes from 20 countries, i.e. 68 women and 88 men, will vye for medals in the 1000m, the 1500m, the relay and two 500m races slated during the weekend of the Toronto competition.
In addition to the Canadian team, which will include Olympic medalists Charles Hamelin, Marianne St-Gelais, Valérie Maltais, Charle Cournoyer and François Hamelin, fans of speed events will be able to see nine of the top 10 women in last season's World Championship overall standings, as well as eight of the top 10 men.
Several of speed skating's marquee athletes will be on hand, including 2015 world champions Minjeong Choi of South Korea and Sjinkie Knegt of the Netherlands, as well as Olympic medalists Suk Hee Shim and Kim Alang of South Korea, in addition to China's Kexin Fan, Jingnan Shi, Tianyu Han and Dajing Wu, who are all sure to provide exciting moments on the ice.
Tickets and the complete schedule for the races to be held during the three-day competition are available at www.speedskating.ca/toronto2015.
"Fans of speed and action and great thrills will be well-served this weekend at this very first ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cup to be presented in Toronto," said Organizing Committee Co-Chairman Desmond Preudhomme.
"We invite all fans of extreme sports to come and discover what this Olympic sport has to offer, as the best in the world will give it their all to try to win medals at this historical event, which will allow Toronto to shine all over the world, as it did during the recent Pan-American and Parapan-American Games."
"As an Olympic medalist in short track speed skating, I invite everyone from the greater Toronto area to come and see in person this competition which promises to keep you on the edge of your seat," said the event's honorary president and silver medalist at the 2006 Olympic Games, Amanda Overland of Cambridge, Ontario. "I will be there all weekend long to meet with people but most of all, to experience once again the great joys and surprises that my sport brings."
Sunday, November 8: meet Canadian team members
At the end of the day of competition on Sunday, November 8, Canadian team members will be inviting fans on hand to come and meet them at an autograph session to be held at MasterCard Centre.
Olympic medalists Charles Hamelin, Marianne St-Gelais, Valérie Maltais, Charle Cournoyer and François Hamelin will be on hand, along with their teammates, to meet with their Toronto-area fans.
Broadcast on CBC
Races will be broadcast on CBC, official broadcaster of the event, on Saturday, November 7 from 5 pm to 6 pm (Eastern Time) as well as on Sunday, November 8 from 3 pm to 4 pm (Eastern Time), and also on its web site at cbcsports.ca, Saturday and Sunday from 1 pm to 4 pm.
French-speaking fans can also follow the competition, as races will be webcast on the radio-canada.ca website from 1 pm to 5 pm on both Saturday and Sunday.
About the 2015 ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cup in Toronto
The 2015 ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cup in Toronto, set to take place from November 6 to 8 at MasterCard Centre, will feature the best short track speed skaters in the world as part of the second stage of the 2015-2016 season. There will be six World Cups stages overall around the world.
The organizing committee for the 2015 ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cup in Toronto would like to thank its partners and sponsors:
Corporate partners: Intact, Li-Ning, Usana, The Westin Harbour Castle, Snapd, 7-11, City-Chevrolet Buick Cadillac GMC
Government partners: Government of Canada, Tourism Toronto, City of Toronto
Sports partners: ISU, Ontario Speed Skating Association and Speed Skating Canada
More details and tickets are available at www.speedskating.ca/toronto2015.
SOURCE Speed Skating Canada

Patrick Godbout, Communications & Media Relations Manager, Speed Skating Canada, Email: [email protected], Phone: 514 213-9897, Website: www.speedskating.ca, Facebook: www.facebook.com/SSC.PVC, Twitter: www.twitter.com/SSC_PVC
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