{gallery}{/gallery}

The Speed Skating World Championships in Oostende, Belgium, has begun yesterday with the opening ceremony.

410 runners from 52 nations are ready to start the most important competition of the year.

This year the participation of so many countries from the five continents marks a record.

From today in the Belgian city, which hosted the World Championships also in 2002, will take place many competitions including six track races, five road races and the marathon.

The world of speed skating is ready to celebrate his annual reunion, which is the event the athletes have prepared all the year for.

Yesterday night took place the opening ceremony with the welcome of the Mayor and the delegate meeting. Here are some pictures.

FIRS President Sabatino Aracu and Belgian Federation President, Mrs. Gonda Verbruggen.

The delegate meeting:

And the Opening Ceremony:

The final races will be on live streaming in the FIRS web-TV starting from today: http://www.rollersports.org/RollerSports/content/webtv.html