Speedskating World

Speedskating World, commonly abbreviated SSW, is an English-language specialist magazine devoted to speed skating and the people, institutions, and culture surrounding the sport. It began publication in 1995 and developed an international readership, with subscribers reported in more than twenty-five countries. The publication typically appeared eight times per year during its print period and presented itself as the only English-language magazine dedicated specifically to speed skating. The magazine’s editorial scope is broad. Its principal emphasis is classical long-track speed skating, in which competitors race in pairs on 400-metre tracks, compete against both an opponent and the clock, and exchange the inner and outer lanes on the back straight. Alongside race coverage, Speedskating World has published interviews and features on athletes, coaches, sports administrators, political issues, sports medicine, training methods, equipment, statistics, Olympic competition, world championships, historical subjects, and fan culture. It has also covered short-track speed skating and marathon skating, although these disciplines receive less attention than long-track competition. A notable part of the magazine’s identity is its athlete-interview portfolio. Approximately twenty Olympic champions were specially interviewed for the publication, with some interviews appearing before the athletes subsequently won Olympic medals. This gave the magazine a role not only as a results and news outlet but also as a record of competitors’ development, preparation, and perspectives on the sport. Speedskating World was published and printed in the Netherlands under the editorship of Irene Postma, while maintaining an international editorial outlook and readership. The magazine paused after the 2005–2006 season. It returned in January 2007 in online-magazine form, marking a transition from its earlier print model toward digital distribution. Publicly available reference material does not establish a current publishing schedule, ownership structure, legal entity, or continuing operating status, so those details remain unconfirmed.

Speedskating World was established in 1995 as an English-language magazine dedicated exclusively to speed skating and speed skaters. Its creation addressed a specialist publishing gap: although speed skating has a substantial international following and a major Olympic presence, English-language periodicals devoted solely to the sport were limited. From the outset, the magazine adopted an international perspective rather than focusing on one national federation, rink, or competition circuit. It attracted subscribers in more than twenty-five countries and was published and printed in the Netherlands. The publication’s editorial center was classical long-track speed skating. Its coverage explained and followed racing on 400-metre tracks, including the paired-racing format, the contest against both the clock and a direct opponent, and the required exchange of inner and outer lanes on the back straight. This technical focus was combined with broader reporting designed to serve both specialist participants and interested fans. Articles addressed athletes and coaches, competition administration and politics, sports medicine, training regimes, equipment, statistics, Olympic events, world championships, the history of the sport, and the wider fan culture around speed skating. Short-track racing and marathon skating were also represented, though they were secondary to long-track coverage. Interviews became an important part of the magazine’s profile. Reference material records specially conducted interviews with around twenty Olympic champions. Several of those conversations took place before the athletes later won their Olympic medals, allowing the publication to document competitors’ ambitions and preparation before their greatest achievements. This interview work strengthened Speedskating World’s role as an archival and interpretive publication rather than a simple results bulletin. During its print phase, the magazine generally appeared eight times per year. It was edited by Irene Postma, who was also associated with its Dutch publishing and printing operation. Despite that national production base, the magazine’s subject matter, contributors, readership, and editorial outlook were international. Speedskating World halted publication after the 2005–2006 season. The interruption did not mark the end of the title: in January 2007 it returned as an online magazine. The move reflected a change in distribution and publishing format, from a recurring printed periodical toward digital publication. Public reference material does not provide reliable information about the magazine’s current frequency, ownership, staffing beyond its identified chief editor, or whether it remains active today. Accordingly, its present status is recorded as unknown rather than assumed to be active or defunct.

• 2007

  Return as an online magazine

  [1]Speedskating Worlden.wikipedia.org

  Speedskating World resumes publication in January in an online-magazine format.

• 2006

  Print publication pauses

  [1]Speedskating Worlden.wikipedia.org

  The magazine takes a hiatus after the 2005–2006 speed-skating season.

• 1995

  Speedskating World begins publication

  [1]Speedskating Worlden.wikipedia.org

  The specialist English-language magazine first appears, covering speed skating and speed skaters for an international readership.

A specialist, internationally oriented English-language publication for speed-skating athletes, coaches, officials, historians, and fans, with particular authority in classical long-track skating.

• Print sports magazine · 1995

  Speedskating World print magazine

  The original publication format of Speedskating World was a recurring English-language print magazine produced in the Netherlands. During its print period it typically appeared eight times annually and combined news, interviews, analysis, historical material, and practical features. Its principal subject was long-track speed skating, supplemented by coverage of short track, marathon skating, Olympic competition, championships, equipment, coaching, and sports medicine.

• Digital sports publication · 2007

  Speedskating World online magazine

  The online edition represented the title’s post-hiatus digital format. It returned in January 2007 after the print publication had stopped, retaining the magazine’s international editorial focus on speed skating, athletes, competition, training, equipment, and sport culture. Public reference material does not establish the edition’s current publishing activity or schedule.

• 2007

  Shift from print publishing to an online magazineStrategy

  Background

  The magazine had stopped after the 2005–2006 season following a period in which it generally appeared eight times a year in print.

  Action taken

  Speedskating World resumed publication in January 2007 using an online-magazine format.

  Aftermath

  The title continued its specialist international editorial mission in a digital format, although publicly available material does not document its subsequent schedule or present operating status.

  Source

1. 1Speedskating Worlden.wikipedia.org