4 speed skaters to debut at 2013 World Winter Games

SINGAPORE: For the first time, Singapore is sending athletes to compete in the Short Track Speed Skating at the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games.

Eight athletes are vying for the spot but only four will make the cut.

A local Short Track Speed Skating Competition was held at JCube — Singapore’s only Olympic sized skating rink.

The eight skaters have been training at the rink every Saturday since April.

Two males and two females will get a chance to represent Singapore in the South Korea’s Pyeong Chang for the World Games in January 2013.

The judges will announce the results in two weeks’ time after collating the results from the competition and the athletes’ previous training sessions.

The Floor Hockey Team — a sport that competed in the 2005 edition of the Games —joined the skaters.

Dr Teo—Koh Sock Miang, president of Special Olympics Singapore, said: "We definitely need resources, the ice time for example, we are working on getting extra ice time for training. So we are very grateful to the Singapore Sports Council. We are very grateful to the Singapore Ice Skating Association because they help provide all the coaches and the volunteers."

— CNA/ck