Speed skating at the 1994 Winter Olympics records and five Olympic records were set in Lillehammer. Twenty-one nations competed in the speed skating events at Lillehammer. Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine made their Olympic speed skating debuts. Speed skating at the 1994 Winter Olympics Speed skating at the 1994 Winter Olympics, was held from 13 February to 25 February. Ten events were contested at Hamar Olympic Hall. Norway led the medal table in speed skating on home ice, led by Johann Olav Koss, who won three gold medals. Bonnie Blair was the most successful woman, with a pair of gold medals. Germany won the most total medals,
Winter Olympic Games Olympic flag presented at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp was stolen, as was its replacement. There was unprecedented parity at these Games, during which 10 countries won gold medals—more than any Games to that point. The Olympic Flame for the 1952 Games in Oslo, was lit in the fireplace by skiing pioneer Sondre Nordheim, and the torch relay was conducted by 94 participants entirely on skis. Bandy, a popular sport in the Nordic countries, was featured as a demonstration sport, though only Norway, Sweden, and Finland fielded teams. Norwegian athletes won 17 medals, which outpaced all the other nations.