ABOUT SKELETON

Origins of the Sport
Considered the world's first sliding sport, skeleton was started in the Swiss town of St. Moritz in the late 1800s. The first competition was held in 1884. Riders raced down the road from St. Moritz to Celerina, where the winner received a bottle of champagne. It wasn't until 1887 that riders began competing in the prone position used today. The sport received its name in 1892, when a new sled made mostly of metal was introduced. People thought it looked like a skeleton.

In 1923, the Federation Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobagganing (FIBT) was founded. Three years later, bobsleigh and skeleton were declared Olympic sports.

Olympic history
Skeleton returns to the Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City after a 54-year absence. The 2002 Games will mark skeleton's third Olympic appearance. Skeleton was contested in 1928 and 1948 Winter Games, both of which were held in St. Moritz, where skeleton was founded in the late 1800s. While only men's skeleton was contested in 1928 and 1948, men's and women's events will be on the program for Salt Lake.

The sled
The sport of skeleton utilizes sleds with two runners. The frame must be constructed of steel. The same sled must be used in all the heats of the competition. If a damaged skeleton cannot be repaired in time for a heat, the use of a spare sled may be permitted by the competition jury.

In the women's event, the weight of sled and driver, including equipment, may not be more than 92 kg (202.4 lbs.). The maximum weight of the sled alone is 35 kg (77 lbs.). If the weight of the sled and the driver, including equipment, does exceed 92 kg (202.4 lbs.) then the maximum weight of the sled alone must not exceed 29 kg (63.8 lbs.). The sled length must be between 80 to 120 centimeters (2 feet, 7.5 inches to 3 feet, 11.25 inches) and the height between 8 to 20 centimeters (3.1 inches to 7.9 inches).

Ballast may be added to the sled until it reaches the maximum weight, but the ballast cannot be attached to the driver's body.

The parts
The runners must be made of a solid piece of steel, and no plating or coating is allowed. It is not permitted to warm up the runners or use any substance that improves sliding. At the start of the race, the temperature of the runners must be within 4 degrees Celsius of the reference runner, which is exposed to the open air for one hour before the start of the competition. Devices to assist steering or braking are prohibited.

Each competitor's shoe may have a maximum of eight spikes on the base of the shoe. The spikes may not be longer than 7 millimeters (about one-quarter of an inch). All competitors must wear helmets with chin guards.

Participants
Each nation may enter a maximum of three athletes in the men's competition and a maximum of two athletes in the women's competition. A nation has the right to choose which athletes it enters. All competitors must turn at least 18 years old during the Olympic year.

How to qualify
The number of spots awarded to each country in this event is as follows:

1. Countries ranked 1-3 in the 2001-2002 World Cup rankings receive two spots.
2. Countries ranked 4-8 in the 2001-2002 World Cup rankings receive two spots.
3. Countries ranked 1-4 in the 2001-2002 Challenge Cup rankings receive one spot.
4. The host nation receives one spot if it has not qualified an athlete in another fashion.

No country may enter more than two athletes in this event, and an athlete must have taken part in at least five recognized international competitions to be able to participate. These competitions must have occurred on at least three different tracks and must be distributed over two seasons prior to the Games.

Start order
For the first run, the start order is based on a draw that occurs the day before the race. The start order for the second run is based on the competitor's time on the first run. Only the top top 12 competitors in the women's event in the standings will take the second run. The athletes will start in reverse order of their respective times.

Women
First heat: 1-15
Second heat: 12-1

The Race
The start is authorized by an audio and visual signal and from that point the athlete has 30 seconds to start his run. The competitor may accelerate the sled by pushing it; any other help during the starting procedure is prohibited.

During the race, only the prone position (lying on the stomach) is allowed. The athlete may leave the sled in order to push or move it, but he must pass the finish line on the sled for the run to count.

Competition format
Olympic skeleton events will consist of two runs timed electronically to .01 seconds. The two runs will be contested on the same day and the final standings will be determined by the aggregate time of the two runs. If athletes complete the competition in a tie, they are awarded the same place.

Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport
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Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Phone: 613-562-5667
Fax: 613-562-5668
Email: caaws@caaws.ca