Hamar is a Norwegian city, capital of Hedmark county, with a population of approximately 16,000.

During the Olympic Games in Lillehammer 1994, the speed skating events were held at Hamar, located 60 km south of Lillehammer. Hamar Olympiahall, the first Norwegian indoor speed skating track, was build for this event. The first races in the hall were the World Championships 1993. Falko Zandstra won the championship, but no World Records were broken. But during the World Cup races in December 1993, 3 World Records were broken, and during the Olympic Games 5 World Records were broken.

The hall is shaped like an upside down vikingship, hence the nickname "Vikingskipet". It is located very idyllically in Åkervika by Mjøsa. This location caused great debate because of environmental and nature conservation interests in this area.

Hamar has been a centre for speed skating since the 1890s. In this period the Dutch world champion Jaap Eden spent long periods training at Hamar. The European Championships 1894 and World Championships 1895 were both held at Hamar, and the first official Norwegian Championships were held here in 1894. The last international championships on natural ice was held at Hamar Stadion in 1991.

Hamar has also brought forward great speed skaters, like Einar Halvorsen and Peter Sinnerud. Peter Sinnerud's grandson - Sven Peter Sinnerud - has been preparing the ice in the Vikingship for all the championships since 1994.

By Bjarte Hetland, last updated January 19, 2007