Olympic Winter Games
Short history
As the International Skating Union (ISU, then the IEV) was among the first international sport governing bodies, they were recognized at the congress in the Sorbonne, Paris in 1894 when the IOC was founded, and skating was on the list of Olympic sports. However, the inclusion of speed skating was seriously discussed only before the 1908 Games in London, though no speed skating events were eventually held. However, figure skating competitions were held in London. For the 1916 Berlin Olympics, an allround competition over three distances (500 m, 1500 m and 5000 m) was scheduled, But these Games never took place due to World War I.
In 1924, an International Winter Sports Week was held in Chamonix, France. This event was later called the 1st Olympic Winter Games. As speed skating races were held, speed skating made its appearance on the Olympic scene.
At those first Olympic Games, an allround competition was held, but medals for individual distances (500 m, 1500 m, 5000 m and 10000 m ) were awarded as well. The allround event made its first and last appearance on the Olympic program, in spite of the fact that this was (and is) the format in which the World Championships are held. The Olympic program was extended with four events for women in 1960 (500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m and 3000 m), although these events were already programmed for the 1940 Winter Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II. In 1976, a fifth event for men, the 1000 m was added and in 1988 the inaugural women's 5000 m was contested.