Figure Skating- Salt Lake Ice Arena Like many winter sports, figure skating's roots grew from necessity. As a mode of transportation for warfare and hunting in Northern Europe, skating was a swift way to traverse frozen lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. Warriors and hunters crafted makeshift skates of reindeer antlers or elk bones, and later iron and steel. By the 16th century, skaters were transporting goods across frozen waterways. Figure skating was the first winter sport included in the Olympic Games when it appeared at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. The singles and pairs competitions also appeared in the 1920 Antwerp Summer Games before making their winter debut in Chamonix in 1924. The singles and pairs events have been part of every Olympic winter program. Ice dancing debuted at the 1976 Games in Innsbruck and has been a part of the Olympic program ever since. Back to top