I've noticed that the Americans use 'All around'
However, the official ISU term is 'Allround'.

The Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary gives:
"all-round adj. having ability in many different ways: an all-round
sportsman, good at many different games and sports. Hence, an all-rounder."

I remember how surprised I was in 1997 or thereabouts to hear Diane Holum
talk about 'the all around'. It feels wrong to me, and it's not in my
English dictionary. Any other countries that use that term besides the
Americans?

--
Irene P.
Publisher/Editor Speedskating World

o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o
o.o.o.o.o.o.o.MAY.GOD.BLESS.YOU.o.o.o.o.o.o.o
o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o


> From: Timothy Demerjian <speed_skating@...>
> Reply-To: Speed_skating@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Mon, 09 May 2005 04:01:40 -0700
> To: Speed_skating@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: RE: [Skate] Do you want more allround speed skating?
>
> Is it "allround," or "all around?" If you mean, multi-distance rather than
> single distance, absolutely! It gives no one any indication of how adept a
> speedskater is in their performance of a particular event if you only are
> aware of their times in a single distance.

> If then it is an all around event, where obviously the ranking is based on
> overall time combined from a set selection of different distances, there
> then exists more variables by which to gauge the quality of the skater.

> to another? If they are the all around winner, were they more consistent in
> technique and lap times than the second-best skater? Or was it a factor of
> how well their starts were, perhaps a real bad start that held them back
> from being in the top three for the all around?
>
> Considering all this, it would be more enticing to the spectator, or fellow
> speedskater, to be more interested in such a format of "all around," vs.
> single distance.
>
> Tim Demerjian, RRT
> Sumas, WA USA
> Puget Sound Speedskating Association