The Samsung ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating series begins on Friday in Harbin, China with more than 150 athletes from 22 countries entered to compete. This is the first of six events in the Samsung ISU World Cup Short Track series which this year takes place from October to February in China, Japan, Netherlands, Italy, Canada and USA.

Individual races are held over 500m, 1000m and 1500m in both ladies’ and men’s competitions. In addition, there are relay events for national teams over 3000m (ladies) and 5000m (men).

In 2007/8 the ISU World Cup Short Track series inaugurates a new title sponsor. Samsung Electronics is a world leading electronics and information technology company.

It will be the first time that video of all Short Track World Cup events will be available free of charge. This season viewers can watch the Samsung ISU World Cup Short Track series via a delayed broadcast stream link from the front page of ISU’s institutional site (on the site shortly after the event). Highlights of semi finals and finals will also be available. Based on the popularity of preliminary video streaming last season, the ISU expects several hundreds of thousands of spectators to keep up with the 2007/2008 action in this way.

For live results and other information throughout the competition click here