FIRS SECRETARY GENERAL MAROTTA ABOUT ROLLER SPORTS PROPOSAL FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Good Evening, I am Roberto Marotta, Secretary General of FIRS.

ROLLER SPEED SKATING is the most popular and practiced discipline among those organised and controlled by the FIRS. This is the proposal for Roller Speed Skating to be included in the Olympic Program.

THE STRENGTHS OF OUR SPORT

It is a young, dynamic, fast-paced, and athletic spectacular sport. It is practiced by more than 50 million skaters world-wide, in all the five continents. At the 2008 World Championships, 550 athletes representing 57 countries participated. 14 nations representing 4 continents won medals.

It is an individual, non-violent sport, practiced by men and women equally, competing in the same distances. A clean sport observing all WADA anti-doping rules. 104 Tests were carried out on Skaters at the 2008 World Championships.

Roller Speed Skating is a sport that displays amazing speed. In the 15 km men's race at the 2008 World Championships, an average speed of 43.8 km/ph was achieved. With peaks of 60 Km/Ph during sprints.

Results are calculated objectively and accurately by time keeping and photo finish.

Competitions create a tremendous amount of suspense in spectators what ever the race is. 5 and 10 skaters would participate in the sprint Races of 500 and 1000 metres respectively. In endurance races, groups of 40 skaters are on track at a time and 70 skaters on road. Participants compete for points gaining one point with a sprint at each lap. In elimination races, the sprint in each lap eliminates the last skater in the group. A group of 40 athletes competing on a 200 meter banked track is an amazing show.

THE REQUIRED FACILITIES OF OUR SPORT

Roller Speed Skating may be run on 200 mt banked tracks or within any 400 mt road circuit. Marathons can be scheduled on the same routes used by the athletic marathon.

The 200 mt track can be indoor, and can be used for other sports like track and field, basketball, volleyball and so on. The track can also be performed outdoors. These facilities are not cathedrals in the desert.

Competitions on road circuits are at least 400 metres in length, and do not create any problems. A large street, a square or large car park, are all sufficient for performing Roller Speed Skating events and competitions.

PROPOSAL FOR THE INCLUSION OF ROLLER SPEED SKATING IN THE OLYMPIC PROGRAM

FIRS proposal envisions 5 men's races and 5 women's races in 3 days.

50 men and 50 women selected on a continental basis (13 from Europe, 13 from Asia, 13 from America, 6 from Africa and 5 from Oceania could be admitted at the Olympic Games to compete, on track or on the road (according to IOC choice) on the following distances:
500mt sprint; 1000 mt; 10 km. Elimination; 15 km points; marathon on road of 42,195 km.

FIRS is ready to accept IOC suggestions about the number of, competitions and athletes, to be admitted competing for the Olympic dream.

ROLLER SPEED SKATING - READY FOR THE OLYMPICS