GANGNEUNG, South Korea — It was the third heat of the opening night, with both a South Korean and a North Korean in the field, when the short-track speedskating competition established itself as the place to be for the Winter Olympics.

Like a thunderbolt from a cloud, a previously quiet audience of 12,000 at Gangneung Ice Arena burst to be noticed when the South Korean skater Hwang Dae-heon was introduced for the men’s 1,500-meter race. Fans held the anticipation level at midfrenzy as the North Korean Choe Un-song and four others joined him at the starting line.

The crowd was hushed for the starting gun with a “shhh” from the public-address system, then built itself up again as the six skaters spun in counterclockwise ovals. It oohed at every bump between skaters and roared at every pass. It got louder as the “laps to go” counter clicked down with every spin around the rink.

Hwang won, and the crowd showered him with a piercingly loud ovation. It did not matter that it was just a preliminary heat that merely advanced him to the next round.