Former U.S. speedskater Apolo Ohno on Friday "will partner with a number of organizations and companies, including the Utah Sports Commission, U.S. Speedskating and EnergySolutions Arena, to host a short-track speedskating event that will features some of the world’s best athletes vying for prize money in a one-of-a-kind event," according to Amy Donaldson of the DESERET NEWS. Ohno: "We’ve invited the top four countries from around the world to come and compete in a one day, two-hour, spectacular event that showcases the best racing, the best athletes, but we’ve taken out a lot of the dead time." Donaldson writes Ohno "will package the action-packed races in a much more palatable way for spectators who may not be as familiar with the sport and World Cup or Olympic fans." At a World Cup race, for example, athletes "might have anywhere from 25 to 45 minutes between heats or races." The competition "is designed to allow athletes to perform their best." Ohno's event, however, "is geared toward the fan." Ohno: "The athletes understand this is not a normal competition. We’re trying to do this as entertainment. We’re trying to give people a show." Donaldson notes Friday's event, which will begin at 7:00pm MT, will include "music, lights and an NBC-backed production." Ohno said that athletes "are always looking for opportunities to expand the fan-base of the sport, and in this case, they’ll also be rewarded in ways winter sports athletes don’t normally enjoy" (DESERET NEWS, 11/21).
