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Figure Skating · Interesting Facts

Chapter 4: Rinks & Places

10 parts · 10 tests · 100 facts · updated 20 October 2026 · markdown

Where figure skating happens: the open-air and indoor Olympic venues, the arenas used twice and their names, Lake Placid, Sarajevo's Zetra Hall, the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, the Rideau Canal Skateway and the numbers behind the rinks.

4.41Open-Air Olympic Rinks

When Olympic figure skating was held under the sky: Chamonix, St. Moritz, Garmisch, Oslo and Cortina.

Test 1Skating under the skyTake a test

  1. The open-air rink lies at 1,856 m above sea level.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  2. For comparison, Salt Lake City's arena of 2002 lies at 1,305 m.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  3. Its name, Olympia-Kunsteisstadion, means Olympic Artificial Ice Stadium; it opened in 1934.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  4. A 30 by 60 m rink was laid inside the 400 m speed skating track; Jordal Stadion held two events.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  5. It also hosted the opening and closing ceremonies, bandy and speed skating in 1952.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  6. It had opened in 1955, a year before the Games.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  7. Curling, ice hockey and speed skating were also held there.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  8. 1924, 1936, 1952 and 1956.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  9. 29,000, 12,042, 8,644 and 4,000.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  10. A is Bislett with 29,000, B Cortina with 12,042, C Garmisch with 8,644 and D St. Moritz with 4,000.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · applied

4.42Indoor Olympic Arenas, 1920-1988

From Antwerp's Ice Palace to Calgary's three rinks: the indoor venues of the early and middle Games.

Test 1Indoor arenas before 1992Take a test

  1. Olympedia lists the IJspaleis Antwerpen as an indoor venue, used for figure skating and ice hockey.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  2. It had opened in 1959 and held 8,500 spectators at the Games.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  3. The same hall returned for the Youth Olympic Games in 2012.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  4. It opened in 1972 and could hold 2,700 people; the Mikaho rink held two events.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  5. It held 12,000 spectators and also staged the closing ceremony.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  6. The Olympic Saddledome, the Stampede Corral and the Father David Bauer Olympic Arena.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  7. Zetra had opened in 1982; it also staged the closing ceremony.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  8. 1920, 1960, 1968 and 1988.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  9. 16,605, 15,000, 12,000 and 8,500.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  10. D is 1983; A is 1920, Antwerp's Ice Palace, B the Squaw Valley Games of 1960 and C the Sapporo Games of 1972.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · applied

4.43Olympic Arenas Since 1992

From Albertville to Milan: the halls of the modern Games and what they do now.

Test 1Arenas of the modern GamesTake a test

  1. Then known as the Delta Center, it opened in 1991 and held 17,500 spectators.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  2. It held 8,000 spectators for figure skating and short track.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  3. Vancouver's arena seated 14,239 for the Games.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  4. The IceCap turns the ice into a dry floor without sticking to it.

    Source: IOC, Iceberg Skating Palace (olympics.com) · recall

  5. Over 200 young athletes aged 6 to 18 train there every year.

    Source: IOC, Iceberg Skating Palace (olympics.com) · recall

  6. The stadium opened in 1968 and held 18,000 spectators in 2022.

    Source: IOC, A look at Beijing 2022's ice venues (olympics.com); Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  7. Olympedia lists 9,815 seats for the Games and names such as Unipol Forum and Mediolanum Forum.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  8. 1998, 2006, 2014 and 2026.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  9. 1961, 1968, 1991 and 2016.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  10. A is Beijing's Capital Indoor Stadium (18,000), B Vancouver (14,239), C Sochi (12,000) and D Turin (8,000).

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · applied

4.44Venues Used Twice

Rinks that hosted the Olympic figure skating more than once, or Summer and Winter, or the Youth Games as well.

Test 1Second Olympic livesTake a test

  1. Volleyball in 2008, figure skating and short track in 2022.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names); IOC, A look at Beijing 2022's ice venues (olympics.com) · recall

  2. Its capacity was 11,000 at the two Winter Games and 10,000 for the Youth Olympics.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  3. The hall opened in 1992 and held 6,000 spectators in 1994.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  4. It opened in 2016 and hosted the Youth Olympic figure skating again in 2024.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  5. The Games of 1928 and 1948 both used the open-air rink.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  6. Now called the Jack Shea Arena; the 1980 figure skating used new rinks in the Field House.

    Source: IOC, Lake Placid Olympic Center (olympics.com, 2021) · recall

  7. It also hosts college ice hockey championships and the World Synchronised Skating Championships.

    Source: IOC, Lake Placid Olympic Center (olympics.com, 2021) · recall

  8. 1948, 1976, 1980 and 2016.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  9. 1964, 1976 and 2012.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  10. Row A marks 1964, 1976 and 2012; the others mark St. Moritz, Hamar and Gangneung.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · applied

4.45Arena Names and Nicknames

Sails, rings, icebergs and northern lights: what the Olympic skating halls are called.

Test 1What the arenas are calledTake a test

  1. It was known earlier as the Palazzo delle Mostre, the exhibition palace.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  2. It hosted figure skating and short track at the 1994 Games.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  3. The former IOC President had opened the hall for the 1984 Games and backed its rebuilding.

    Source: IOC, Zetra Olympic Complex (olympics.com, 2021) · recall

  4. It honours the coach of the 1980 US hockey team, renamed on the 25th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice.

    Source: IOC, Lake Placid Olympic Center (olympics.com, 2021) · recall

  5. Olympedia also lists Unipol Forum, DatchForum, Mediolanum Forum and Forum di Assago.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  6. Olympedia notes that it later became the EnergySolutions Arena.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  7. It opened in 2012 and held 12,000 spectators.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names); IOC, Iceberg Skating Palace (olympics.com) · recall

  8. 1983, 1995, 2000 and 2010.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  9. 2005, 2010 and 2011.

    Source: IOC, Lake Placid Olympic Center (olympics.com, 2021); IOC, Zetra Olympic Complex (olympics.com, 2021) · recall

  10. A is 1983, when the Saddledome opened, B 1991, the Delta Center's opening, C 2005, the Herb Brooks renaming, and D 2010.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names); IOC, Lake Placid Olympic Center (olympics.com, 2021); IOC, Zetra Olympic Complex (olympics.com, 2021) · applied

4.46Lake Placid

Two Winter Games, five venues and one hall of fame: the Olympic Center in Lake Placid.

Test 1The Olympic CenterTake a test

  1. The Olympic Arena and the James C. Sheffield Speed Skating Oval; the other three came in 1980.

    Source: IOC, Lake Placid Olympic Center (olympics.com, 2021) · recall

  2. The US Ice Rink is now the USA Rink, the International Rink the Herb Brooks Arena.

    Source: IOC, Lake Placid Olympic Center (olympics.com, 2021) · recall

  3. ORDA, the Olympic Regional Development Authority of New York State, has its headquarters there.

    Source: IOC, Lake Placid Olympic Center (olympics.com, 2021) · recall

  4. The US amateurs beat the tournament favourites in the medal round and went on to win gold.

    Source: IOC, Lake Placid Olympic Center (olympics.com, 2021) · recall

  5. New dasher boards, dehumidification and deep blue seats came with it.

    Source: ORDA, Upgrades of historic 1932 Jack Shea Arena now complete (lakeplacidlegacysites.com, 2021) · recall

  6. It was the first major upgrade of the facilities since the 1980 Games.

    Source: IOC, Lake Placid Olympic Center (olympics.com, 2021) · recall

  7. The Lake Placid Olympic Museum and the Lake Placid Hall of Fame.

    Source: IOC, Lake Placid Olympic Center (olympics.com, 2021) · recall

  8. 1932, 1980, 2005 and 2021.

    Source: IOC, Lake Placid Olympic Center (olympics.com, 2021); ORDA, Upgrades of historic 1932 Jack Shea Arena now complete (lakeplacidlegacysites.com, 2021) · recall

  9. 1980, 2005, 2021 and 2023.

    Source: IOC, Lake Placid Olympic Center (olympics.com, 2021); ORDA, Upgrades of historic 1932 Jack Shea Arena now complete (lakeplacidlegacysites.com, 2021) · recall

  10. A is 1932; B is 1980, the second Games, C 2005, the Herb Brooks renaming, and D 2021, the reopening.

    Source: IOC, Lake Placid Olympic Center (olympics.com, 2021); ORDA, Upgrades of historic 1932 Jack Shea Arena now complete (lakeplacidlegacysites.com, 2021) · applied

4.47Sarajevo's Zetra Hall

The hall of the 1984 figure skating: built, destroyed in war, rebuilt and renamed.

Test 1Zetra HallTake a test

  1. It hosted the ice hockey finals, the figure skating and the closing ceremony.

    Source: IOC, Zetra Olympic Complex (olympics.com, 2021) · recall

  2. It is home to the national handball, futsal and ice hockey teams and the National Olympic Committee.

    Source: IOC, Zetra Olympic Complex (olympics.com, 2021) · recall

  3. During the war the city's largest building served as a morgue and a store for UN equipment.

    Source: IOC, Zetra Olympic Complex (olympics.com, 2021) · recall

  4. The IOC gave USD 11.5 million and the work was completed in 1999.

    Source: IOC, Zetra Olympic Complex (olympics.com, 2021) · recall

  5. Juan Antonio Samaranch was instrumental in that support; the hall took his name in 2010.

    Source: IOC, Zetra Olympic Complex (olympics.com, 2021) · recall

  6. It was restored in 2010 and 2017 and is now used for summer training and festivals.

    Source: IOC, Zetra Olympic Complex (olympics.com, 2021) · recall

  7. Facilities include tennis courts, a bowling alley, a pistol range and indoor and outdoor ice rinks.

    Source: IOC, Zetra Olympic Complex (olympics.com, 2021) · recall

  8. 1982, 1984, 1992 and 1999.

    Source: IOC, Zetra Olympic Complex (olympics.com, 2021); Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  9. 2004, 2010, 2019 and October 2020.

    Source: IOC, Zetra Olympic Complex (olympics.com, 2021) · recall

  10. A is 1984, B the shelling of 1992, C 1999 and D the renaming of 2010.

    Source: IOC, Zetra Olympic Complex (olympics.com, 2021) · applied

4.48The Broadmoor

A riding academy turned Ice Palace in Colorado Springs, and the club that trained Olympic champions there.

Test 1The Broadmoor and its clubTake a test

  1. Spencer Penrose and Charles L. Tutt Jr. had it converted in 24 days.

    Source: Broadmoor Skating Club, Our history (broadmoorskatingclub.com) · recall

  2. About 100 tons of ice covered a surface of 185 by 85 feet.

    Source: Broadmoor Skating Club, Our history (broadmoorskatingclub.com) · recall

  3. It joined United States Figure Skating in 1939 and became the Broadmoor Skating Club in 1948.

    Source: Broadmoor Skating Club, Our history (broadmoorskatingclub.com) · recall

  4. Hayes Alan won in 1956 and David in 1960, after a bronze in 1956.

    Source: Broadmoor Skating Club, Our history (broadmoorskatingclub.com) · recall

  5. Tina Noyes, another of Fassi's pupils, was fourth at the same Games.

    Source: Broadmoor Skating Club, Our history (broadmoorskatingclub.com) · recall

  6. Over 200 national medallists have trained at the club.

    Source: Broadmoor Skating Club, Our history (broadmoorskatingclub.com) · recall

  7. In the 1981-82 season, 43 international skaters trained there.

    Source: Broadmoor Skating Club, Our history (broadmoorskatingclub.com) · recall

  8. 1938, 1939, 1948 and 1977.

    Source: Broadmoor Skating Club, Our history (broadmoorskatingclub.com) · recall

  9. 1956, 1960 and 1968.

    Source: Broadmoor Skating Club, Our history (broadmoorskatingclub.com) · recall

  10. C is 185 by 85 feet; A, B and D are other proportions drawn for comparison.

    Source: Broadmoor Skating Club, Our history (broadmoorskatingclub.com) · applied

4.49The Rideau Canal Skateway

Ottawa's 7.8 km of maintained natural ice, the largest of its kind in Guinness World Records.

Test 1The Rideau Canal SkatewayTake a test

  1. Guinness World Records lists it as the largest naturally frozen ice rink, about 90 Olympic rinks in area.

    Source: Guinness World Records, Largest naturally frozen ice rink (Rideau Canal Skateway); National Capital Commission, History of the Rideau Canal Skateway (ncc-ccn.gc.ca) · recall

  2. In January 1971 NCC staff cleared a small section near the National Arts Centre.

    Source: National Capital Commission, History of the Rideau Canal Skateway (ncc-ccn.gc.ca) · recall

  3. The average season lasts about 50 days.

    Source: National Capital Commission, History of the Rideau Canal Skateway (ncc-ccn.gc.ca) · recall

  4. It ran from 23 January to 25 February that winter.

    Source: National Capital Commission, History of the Rideau Canal Skateway (ncc-ccn.gc.ca) · recall

  5. Visitors had come in their hundreds of thousands from the very first season.

    Source: National Capital Commission, History of the Rideau Canal Skateway (ncc-ccn.gc.ca) · recall

  6. A new ice resurfacer called The Froster arrived in 2011.

    Source: National Capital Commission, History of the Rideau Canal Skateway (ncc-ccn.gc.ca) · recall

  7. The BeaverTails pastry stand, once selling 'The Elephant Ear', arrived on Dow's Lake in 1981.

    Source: National Capital Commission, History of the Rideau Canal Skateway (ncc-ccn.gc.ca) · recall

  8. 1971, 1979, 1981 and 2007.

    Source: National Capital Commission, History of the Rideau Canal Skateway (ncc-ccn.gc.ca) · recall

  9. 90 days, about 50 days and 18 days.

    Source: National Capital Commission, History of the Rideau Canal Skateway (ncc-ccn.gc.ca) · recall

  10. D shows 90 rinks, the Guinness figure; A shows 10, B 30 and C 60.

    Source: Guinness World Records, Largest naturally frozen ice rink (Rideau Canal Skateway) · applied

4.50Rinks by the Numbers

Rink sizes, roofs, seats and openings: the numbers of figure skating's Olympic venues.

Test 1Numbers of the venuesTake a test

  1. They run from Prince's Skating Club in 1908 to the Forum di Milano in 2026.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  2. The surface measured 185 by 85 feet.

    Source: Broadmoor Skating Club, Our history (broadmoorskatingclub.com) · recall

  3. It was the smallest of Calgary's three figure skating venues; the Saddledome held 16,605.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  4. That is more than Salt Lake City's 17,500 in 2002 and Calgary's 16,605 in 1988.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  5. The work cost $200,000 and turned a riding academy into a rink.

    Source: Broadmoor Skating Club, Our history (broadmoorskatingclub.com) · recall

  6. The maintained ice covers 165,621 square metres.

    Source: Guinness World Records, Largest naturally frozen ice rink (Rideau Canal Skateway) · recall

  7. They are aged between 6 and 18.

    Source: IOC, Iceberg Skating Palace (olympics.com) · recall

  8. 18,000, 17,500, 16,605 and 7,351.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  9. 1,856 m, 1,305 m and 37 m.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · recall

  10. B is 30 x 60 m, as in Grenoble, Innsbruck, Calgary, Albertville, Nagano and Gangneung; A, C and D are other sizes.

    Source: Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names) · applied

Sources

Olympedia venue pages; IOC legacy articles (Lake Placid Olympic Center, Zetra Olympic Complex, Iceberg Skating Palace, Beijing 2022 ice venues); ORDA; the Broadmoor Skating Club's history; the National Capital Commission; Guinness World Records. Every fact is recorded with its source in docs/FIGURE_SKATING_VERIFIED_FACTS.md.

  • Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names)45
  • Broadmoor Skating Club, Our history (broadmoorskatingclub.com)12
  • IOC, Zetra Olympic Complex (olympics.com, 2021)10
  • IOC, Lake Placid Olympic Center (olympics.com, 2021)9
  • National Capital Commission, History of the Rideau Canal Skateway (ncc-ccn.gc.ca)8
  • IOC, Iceberg Skating Palace (olympics.com)3
  • IOC, Lake Placid Olympic Center (olympics.com, 2021); ORDA, Upgrades of historic 1932 Jack Shea Arena now complete (lakeplacidlegacysites.com, 2021)3
  • Guinness World Records, Largest naturally frozen ice rink (Rideau Canal Skateway)2
  • IOC, A look at Beijing 2022's ice venues (olympics.com); Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names)1
  • Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names); IOC, A look at Beijing 2022's ice venues (olympics.com)1
  • Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names); IOC, Iceberg Skating Palace (olympics.com)1
  • IOC, Lake Placid Olympic Center (olympics.com, 2021); IOC, Zetra Olympic Complex (olympics.com, 2021)1
  • Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names); IOC, Lake Placid Olympic Center (olympics.com, 2021); IOC, Zetra Olympic Complex (olympics.com, 2021)1
  • ORDA, Upgrades of historic 1932 Jack Shea Arena now complete (lakeplacidlegacysites.com, 2021)1
  • IOC, Zetra Olympic Complex (olympics.com, 2021); Olympedia, figure skating venues (venue pages: type, opened, capacity, dimensions, altitude, other names)1
  • Guinness World Records, Largest naturally frozen ice rink (Rideau Canal Skateway); National Capital Commission, History of the Rideau Canal Skateway (ncc-ccn.gc.ca)1