Worldcup Short Track in Dresden

11 February 2009   -   For the first time ever World's top shorttrackers do stop in Germany. The new ice-rink "Freiberger-Arena" in Dresden, Saxony, hosts the final event of the "Samsung ISU World Cup Short Track". About 260 skaters of 25 nations have arrived in Dresden to compete the 500 meter (twice), 1000 meter, 1500 meter and relay events. After this weekend the World Cup Rakings are complete, and the ISU will give a prize money of in summary 180.000 US-Dollar for winners and next-placed athletes of the final ranking.
   
    Concerning this event there is a media interest for shorttrack as never before. The Dresden organizers hope for a good crowd during both main sessions (saturday 2 pm, sunday 2 pm). Tickets are available by reservation over www.worldcupshorttrack.de or directly on the box offices.
   
    All top nations are represented by their best shorttrack skaters, except Canada and the US with some withdrawals (unfortunately no Apolo Ohno of the US and no Francois-Louis Trembay of Canada). But the spectators will see Si-Bak Sung of South Korea (m) the worldrecord-holder 500 m, Evgenia Radanova of Bulgaria (f); Olympic Silver 500 m 2006, 7 times European Champion, Arianna Fontana of Italy (f); European Champion 2009 + 2008 and Nicola Rodigari of Italy (m) the European Champion 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009.
   
    More information regarding the Samsung ISU World Cup Short Track in Dresden can be found on www.worldcupshorttrack.de and www.desg.de/?cat=4
   
    Matthias Opatz