There are 10 long track speed skating events - five each for men and women.
Men's events go from 500 metres-10,000m while the women's events range from 500m-5000m.
In each event, skaters race in pairs against the clock on a standard 400m oval.
Athletes are timed to the hundredth of a second as they skate counter-clockwise around the oval.
Short track skating consists of eight events - three men's and women's individual competitions (500m, 1000m and 1500m) and a men's and women's relay, both involving teams of four skaters.
Athletes race in packs and try to outskate and outwit fellow competitors within their heats.
The field is eventually narrowed to a handful of finalists. The first one to cross the finish line is the winner.
Individual heats feature four skaters at a time in a mass start. Athletes skate counter-clockwise, and the first two across the finish line advance to the next round.