About The Richmond Olympic Oval

Vision & Values | Venue Overview | Oval Board | Oval Management | Annual Report

City Vision:

To be the most appealing, livable and well managed community in Canada.

Project Vision:

A unique destination that serves as a dynamic international gathering place and an outstanding centre of excellence for sports and wellness at the heart of an exciting urban waterfront.

Project Mission:

To use the Olympic opportunity as a catalyst to transform our City to international stature, and create new social and economic capital that significantly enriches Richmond’s quality of life. We will do this by blending the spirit of Olympism with inspired leadership, and seamlessly combining a world class site, a sport and wellness agenda and innovative community planning to create the premiere legacy of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Components of our mission include:

• Delivery of a world class speed skating facility for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
• Development of a significant high performance sport legacy.
• Transforming our City Centre into a dynamic urban core that embraces its waterfront connection.
• Creating broad shared support and commitment for the City’s vision throughout the entire community, including staff, volunteers, community members and other stakeholders.
• Defining Richmond as an international City in the eyes of the world.
• Enhancing quality of life for Richmond residents through sport and wellness.
• Enhancing the City’s financial and economic positions through increased livability, development, tourism and business retention.

Critical Success Factors:

Delivery of a world class speed skating facility

We will have:

• Delivered the project on time and on budget.
• Met or exceeded the requirements of the 2010 long track speed skating events.
• Successfully hosted a number of test events prior to the Games.
• Created a model facility for future Olympic Games and international events.

High performance sport legacy

We will have:

• Created a comprehensive high performance sport program that systematically supports all levels of athletes in order to put athletes on the podium.
• Utilized meaningful input from athletes, coaches, and appropriate sport bodies into the building program and design.
• Secured appropriate legacy and other funding to sustain an excellent sport program at the Oval.

Dynamic urban core

We will have:

• Developed a landmark building and precinct that is a place of inspiration, celebration and active living.
• Connected a distinctive waterfront to the City Centre.
• Created a new, dynamic and uniquely designed residential/mixed use neighbourhood.
• Catalyzed Richmond’s downtown redevelopment.
• Created a highly treasured and proud chapter in Richmond’s history.

Shared community vision

We will have:

• Created a lasting community legacy that continues to evoke the emotions, pride and spirit of the Olympics long after the Games conclude.
• Increased City staff and volunteer capacity to perform on the world stage and in hosting international events.

• Raised the awareness and participation of residents in sport and wellness activities.
• Developed new partnerships, and intergovernmental/interagency relationships that help to sustain the Olympic legacy, and maximize the benefits to our community.

International City

We will have:

• Created a regionally, nationally and internationally recognized City of excellence.
• Positioned Richmond as a desirable international city for business, living and play.
• Created a recognized, memorable image regionally and internationally.

Quality of life through sport and wellness

We will have:

• Created an inspiring high performance sport training centre that embraces the “playground to podium” continuum, successfully blends wellness activities, and is based on the spirit of Olympism for all.
• Created a local, regional, national and international destination for athletes.
• Hosted the 2010 Olympic Winter Games long track speed skating event.
• Contributed to a measurably, healthier community.
• Created new opportunities in sport and wellness for women, youth, seniors, the disabled and economically disadvantaged.

Economic sustainability

We will have:

• Stimulated private sector growth and investment leading to an increase in the City’s tax base.
• Created an excellent and viable “Oval business” that maximizes legacy funding and other non-tax based revenues.
• Developed and implemented a core business plan around sport and wellness, with supporting programs, uses and events that help support the core business.

Guiding Principles to Accomplish Our Mission:

World class leadership

• Innovative
• Bold
• Entrepreneurial
• Olympic Spirit
• Pursuit of Excellence
• Finding, consulting with and listening to the experts
• Effective communication

Values based

• Vision and mission driven
• Triple bottom line thinking (economical, environmental, social)
• Long term thinking

Results oriented

• Agile and decisive
• Team based
• True to our commitments
• Guided by our core business plan
• “Uniqueness of place” – a special and recognizable identity
• “Richmond, Better in Every Way”