Vision & Values | Venue Overview | Oval Board | Oval Management | Annual Report
In July 2004, the City of Richmond signed a proclamation to take a lead role in the development of the Long Track Speed Skating Venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. With a vision to create a unique destination and international gathering place for wellness and sports excellence, the City developed the blueprints for a breathtaking venue on the banks of the Fraser River that would be a hallmark of sustainability, accessibility and world-class sportsmanship – The Richmond Oval. More than a spectacular venue for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the Oval also signifies a major investment in the overall health and wellbeing of the diverse community of Richmond.
The Richmond Oval is a 512,000 square foot, multi-use facility, with capacity for 8,000 spectators. Its permanent features include community wellness services and programming, sports medicine and sciences, a major fitness centre, community activity areas and restaurant and retail space. The area surrounding the Oval will be the site of a major waterfront neighbourhood incorporating a park and a plaza, with residential, commercial and public amenities.
The Richmond Oval project will evolve in three stages: Pre-Games, Games-Time, and Legacy (Post-Games). Prior to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the Oval will be open to the public for recreational activities, while the ice is tested for Olympic readiness, and athletes, officials and staff prepare for the Games. The Oval will be one of the busiest venues during the Olympics and will host 12 Long Distance Speed Skating medal events. Upon conclusion of the Games, the Oval will begin its legacy as an important permanent fixture serving the local, national and international community as a one-of-a-kind centre for health, wellness, and sports excellence
This period will prepare the building and staff for Olympic use. The ice will be tested for competition readiness, and staff and volunteers will be trained and evaluated. The Oval’s event-hosting capabilities will be demonstrated during several scheduled pre-games events including the ’08 and ’09 Canadian Single Distance Championships and the ’09 World Single Distance Championships, among other national and international speed skating and soccer events. A Winter Festival and One Year Countdown celebration is scheduled for February 2009.
In the early stages, the Oval will not only be operational for speed skating related uses and Olympic preparation, but it will also be available to the public for a selection of pre-Games activities. Public skating, skating lessons, special events, fitness and wellness programming, as well as dry floor activities will be offered.
Pre-Games amenities will include four basketball courts, specialized fitness studios for rowing and spinning, and targeted resistance programs designed to develop muscles specific to real-life activities. A video wall in the rowing and spinning studio will simulate real outdoor fitness adventures, such as participating in the Tour de France.
In these initial stages of operation, the Oval will be controlled solely by the City of Richmond. VANOC will come on board in December of 2009 to jointly run the facility with the City in the weeks leading up to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
VANOC takes full operational control of the Richmond Oval for the 17 day duration of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games from February 12 to 28. The Oval will house a 400m track with capacity for approximately 8,000 spectators and will be the location of all Olympic Long Track Speed Skating events. As the host venue for a total of 12 medal events, with 36 medals to be awarded, the Oval will be one of the busiest venues during the Games.
Other Games-Time Oval features include first-class support areas for athletes, coaches, trainers, officials and volunteers, as well as extensive accommodations for hundreds of worldwide media broadcasts. Stations will be provided for approximately 250 accredited media, with additional space for thousands of non-accredited media and VIP lounges. The Oval will also play an important role in achieving a drug-free 2010 Olympic Winter Games as the location of the official Olympic anti-doping lab.
The Oval will be a major focal point of the Games as the host venue of a large number of medal events and could also be the location of Canada’s first Olympic gold while hosting the Games.
As a partner in the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, the City of Richmond is committed to ensuring all residents have a positive and memorable Olympic experience through the minimization of disruption and the maximization of community benefit.
