Richmond Olympic Oval
 

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August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
Other 2009

August 2010  
Vancouver Sun

Games investment found paying dividends


Next month, the Richmond oval - site of long-track speed-skating competitions - will complete a six-month refit by reopening for hockey. In recent months, the oval has also created several "centres of excellence" to develop and train athletes. The first was a Hockey Canada-led centre for ice hockey. The city is also investing in making itself a go-to place for volleyball.

Last week, the oval staff announced the facility will become a regional development centre for table tennis, capitalizing on the sport's popularity among the 65 per cent of Richmond's residents who are of Asian descent.

Read more


Xinhuanet.com

Multi-sport camps champion kids overall physical development


VANCOUVER, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- True to the spirit of the Winter Games which it hosted earlier this year, the Richmond Olympic Oval has been hosting multi-sport camps throughout the summer to expose children to a variety of activities but more importantly, to promote a lifelong interest in physical activity.

Read more.

bclocalnews.com

Table tennis latest to establish centre of excellence at oval


Table tennis is the latest sport to establish a centre of excellence at the Richmond Olympic Oval.

“A centre of excellence for table tennis at the oval is not only timely for this sport’s development on the west coast of Canada, but is also the most logistical solution for table tennis lovers immigrating from far east Asia where this sport is considered one of the most popular,” said Canadian Chinese Table Tennis Federation president Claude Tchao.

Read more.

www.metronews.ca

Richmond to get a grip on table tennis racket

Out goes speedskating and in comes table tennis.

Saturday will be the official opening of the Table Tennis Centre of Excellence at the Richmond Oval.

Members of the Chinese Canadian Table Tennis Federation, along with John Mills, the general manager of the Richmond Oval, introduced the facility yesterday as the new hub of table tennis at a memorandum of understanding signing in Richmond.
Read more.

July 2010
bclocalnews.com

Oval was 'a great success story,' says Olympic boss

Vancouver's Olympic boss returned to Richmond City Hall Monday to thank the city for being a force behind one of the "great success stories" of the Games.

Speaking five months after the closing ceremonies, VANOC CEO John Furlong told Richmond city council the Games had the "best building of the world" in the Richmond Olympic Oval.

"This was a profoundly great project for the Games. It was without a doubt the signature venue," said Furlong...

Read more.


bclocalnews.com

Donen to serve as CEO of Pacific Volleyball Centre of Excellence at oval


The Pacific Volleyball Centre of Excellence Society has picked Shane Donen to serve as its chief executive officer.

Starting in September, the Richmond Olympic Oval will operate the first Volleyball Centre of Excellence in B.C., an innovative concept created and refined over the past year by key members of the local and national volleyball community.

Read more.


Vancouver Sun 

State-of-the-art fitness centre opens at Olympic oval


A newly expanded, state-of-the-art fitness centre has opened inside the Richmond Olympic Oval, though much of the centre's most innovative exercise equipment is still being brought through the doors.

Proving just how far personal fitness has evolved since the garage days of a dusty old weight-bench and a Deep Purple eight-track, the oval's assistant manager of fitness services, Angela Straker, demonstrated the centre's new rowing studio.

Read more.
 
 Richmond Review

Olympic oval’s high-tech fitness centre opens


The Richmond Olympic Oval has unveiled its new 23,000-square-foot high-tech fitness centre, boasting three times more space than its pre-Games format.

Now open to the public, the centre is outfitted with state-of-the-art strength and cardio equipment—arranged for ability—with the final pieces being installed this summer.

Read more.


Vancouver Sun

Home is where the hardwood is for well-travelled team


Canada plays rare dates in Abbotsford and Richmond against Chile in a tune-up for this fall's world championship

The crowd won't be big Saturday night. Maybe 700 to 800 in the 1,000-seat capacity gym at the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford.

But they'll presumably be cheering for Canada. And for the national senior women's basketball team, which takes on Chile in the first of a two-game exhibition game series that concludes Monday at the Richmond Olympic Oval, that's something to revel in.

Read more


Vancouver Sun  

Badminton's popularity grows in Richmond


....Richmond is not just a place for recreational badminton players. From Tuesday to Sunday, the city will host a major tournament, the Yonex Canada Open, at the Richmond Olympic Oval. More than 250 elite players from 33 countries will compete to win $50,000 -- the largest cash prize for a badminton competition in Canadian history, according to tournament spokeswoman Jessy Sung.

Read more.
   
Oye! Times

Canada’s senior women tip off on home soil as a lead up for FIBA world championship


Canadian basketball fans have a rare opportunity to see the Senior Women’s National Team in action on home soil as the squad gears up for the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women later this summer...

The games begin July 17 at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) in Abbotsford, BC with Canada taking on Chile. On July 19, the same teams will go head to head at the Richmond Olympic Oval in Richmond, BC. This game will mark the first time that the venue will host an international exhibition basketball game for the Canadian National Team. The Canadians will then face the Swedish National Team July 27 at UFV and July 29 at the Richmond Olympic Oval.

Read more.
June 2010  
bclocalnews.com

New floor to put bounce back in athletes’ steps


Athletes, from professionals to weekend warriors, will soon have an extra bounce in their step when they train at the Richmond Olympic Oval.

On Friday, what’s billed as the world’s largest continuous high-tech sport floor was installed at the oval, and will cover a 73,000-square-foot section in a special spike-proof material known as Pulastic.

Read more.


bclocalnews.com

Panther Cheer Athletics setting up shop at Oval


The impending move of Panther Cheer Athletics to the Richmond Olympic Oval will be a boost for the sport of cheerleading.

“It’ll be a beautiful training facility that will allow us to expand our space and to accommodate two full competition floors,” said Stephanie Kennedy.
Read more.


2010 Games Operating Trust Releases 2009 Audited Financial Statements

The 2010 Games Operating Trust (the “Trust”) today publicly released the 2009 audited financial statements, as well as details of the disbursements from the Speed Skating Oval Fund and the Whistler Sliding Centre and Nordic Centre Fund. These funds were established to provide funding for operating expenses and related capital maintenance costs of three legacy facilities for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (the “Games”).

News Release    Financial Statements

 
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Canadian Institute of Steel Construction Announces National Steel Design Award Winners


Recipients recognized for outstanding design, construction and innovation KANANASKIS, AB (CNW) - The Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CISC) is proud to announce the CISC-ICCA National Steel Design Awards winners presented at the 80th CISC Annual General Meeting... 

In the engineering category, which highlights structures, buildings, bridges and process plants in which engineering considerations predominantly influenced the design and construction of the structure, the winner of the Award of Excellence was the Richmond Speed Skating Oval, located in Richmond, British Columbia.
Read more.


The Province

National hoop squads headed here


The men's and women's teams will play in the Lower Mainland, then head on to the World Championships

...The men's team, which will play the Chinese national team at General Motors Place Aug. 10, and the women's team will set the table by playing Chile (July 17 and 19 at University of the Fraser Valley and the Richmond Olympic Oval, respectively) and Sweden (July 27-29 on the same floors).
Read more

May 2010
The Best of Richmond 2010

Best of Richmond Readers' Poll


The Best of Richmond is our biggest edition of the year and certainly the one we most enjoy putting together...
Congrats to all the winners and also special thanks to this year’s models Khethiwe Rudd and Michael Levin for posing for our cover photo, taken by Jennifer Gauthier at Garry Point Park.

Richmond Olympic Oval win best Sporting Venue!
Read more


La Casa Gelato

The Oval is featured in a mural at the popular ice cream and gelato parlour, La Casa Gelato.


Casa Gelato mural.JPG
 
Vancouver Sun

Olympic oval posts $1.1-million profit for first year, May 15, 2010


The Richmond Olympic Oval Corporation boasted a $1.1-million profit in 2009, even though a $300,000 loss had been forecast, according to a report that was presented last week to the city's finance committee.

The oval was the host venue for long track speed skating during the Winter Games, but it is being transformed into a sports and fitness centre, where membership contributes to approximately a third of revenue.
Read more
   
Vancouver Sun

After the Games: Community's turn to enjoy world-class sites - May 15, 2010

Exploring British Columbia's 2010 Olympic legacies from sleeping in the Athlete's Village to taking in a yoga session

...The architecturally striking Richmond Olympic Oval, for example, is currently undergoing a transformation that will take it from a long-track speed skating venue to one of the biggest -- and most ecologically-friendly -- public international centres of excellence for sports, health and wellness in Canada. In place of the speed skating track will be an indoor running track, two international-size ice hockey rinks, four hardwood courts for badminton, volleyball, basketball, soccer, yoga studios and a 2,137-square-metre (23,000-square-foot) mountain-view fitness centre to be open by mid-July. 
Read more


Canadian Press

Metronews.ca Vancouver

Canlan expands its adult safe hockey leagues to the Richmond Olympic Oval


BURNABY, B.C. - Canlan Ice Sports Corp. (TSX: ICE) will expand its adult safe hockey leagues to the Richmond Olympic Oval, home to long-track speed skating during the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

The leagues will being running in September, offering hockey to both men and women, Canlan said Monday.
Read more


richmondreviewcom.JPG

Oval is in the black - May 7, 2010


The Richmond Olympic Oval Corporation outperformed expectations and posted a $1.1 million profit in 2009, considerably better than the $300,000 loss that had been forecasted.
Read more

April 2010

bclocalnews.com

Volleyball Centre of Excellence to set up shop at Richmond Oval - April 29, 2010


As home to Air Attack, Richmond has offered one of the province’s top community volleyball programs for well over a decade. Now, it’s about to boast a Volleyball Centre of Excellence.

The Richmond Olympic Oval will be home to the centre, which is expected to open in September. It will be a leader in superior coaching, technical leadership and competition hosting, guiding athletes and coaches from community grassroots participation to high performance opportunities with Volleyball BC and Volleyball Canada.
Read more

 

 The Province

CBC News

Richmond unveils massive project
Planned community includes 2,600 units on 11 hectares - April 27, 2010


A massive 2,600-unit waterfront development on an 11-hectare site next to the Richmond Olympic Oval will be officially unveiled by the developers today.

Aspac Developments of Vancouver said the project "will be the largest and most upscale master-planned community ever built in Richmond, with more than three million square feet of residential and commercial property."
The Province: Read more
CBC News: Read more

April 2010
Vancouver Sun

Olympic projects lead engineering awards - April 26, 2010


Three projects associated with the Vancouver Olympics were among the award winners announced Saturday at the 2010 Awards for Engineering Excellence.
Read more

April 2010
Richmond News

Richmond Olympic Oval to host world class badminton event in July - April 21, 2010

A world class badminton tournament will be among the first major post-2010 Winter Games events at the Richmond Olympic Oval.

Soon after the impressive $178-million venue re-opens as a multi-purpose athletic facility, the Oval will host the inaugural 2010 Yonex Canadian Open Badminton Championships -- July 13-18. Players from around the world be competing for a $40,000 prize purse making it one of most prestigious badminton tournaments ever to be staged in this country.
Read more

CNNMoney.com

Vancouver Sun

Spicy Pickle Franchising Unit to Open Three Locations Within Richmond, British Columbia Olympic Oval- April 6, 2010


Spicy Pickle Franchising, Inc. (OTCBB: SPKL) announced today that its Bread Garden Urban Cafe Canadian subsidiary, operator of Vancouver's original bakery cafe since 1979, will open three food and beverage locations within the Richmond Olympic Oval in the summer of 2010 in the province of British Columbia, Canada. The Olympic Oval is the facility that hosted the 2010 Winter Olympic long track speed skating.
CNNMoney.com article: Read more
Vancouver Sun article: Read more

April 2010

CTV News

Last weekend for Olympic skating in Richmond - April 3, 2010


The public has a few days left to try their hand at an Olympic sport in Richmond, B.C. The speed skating oval is making some big changes, and come Tuesday the track used in the 2010 Games will be just a memory.
Read more

metronews.ca
Vancouver

Olympic Oval to hold final public skate sessions - March 24, 2010

Those having a tough time letting go of the Olympic experience have one last chance to skate on the same ice where Canadian speedskaters won gold — the Richmond Oval is holding three days of public skating before the ice is removed.
Read more.

March 2010 

review 30 under 30.jpg

30 Under 30: A celebration of Richmond's future - March 20, 2010

On Saturday, March 20, The Richmond Review published its second annual 30 Under 30 edition.

In this issue we introduce 30 interesting people under the age of 30. These are people with Richmond roots who take pride in their work and community. Read more.

30 Under 30: Danielle LaCroix. Read more
30 Under 30: Stephanie Sy. Read more
30 Under 30: Shanna Lynn. Read more

March 2010 
richmondreviewcom.JPG 

Top moments at the Richmond Olympic Oval - March 4, 2010


The XXI Olympic Winter Games, Feb. 12 to 28, was a spectacular showcase of sport, featuring 2,622 athletes from around the world.

Following is a look back at the highlights, surprises and disappointments during the long track speed skating competitions at the Richmond Olympic Oval. read more

March 2010 

The Province

Oval revamp to take a few months - March 4, 2010


The $178-million Richmond Olympic speed-skating oval will reopen to the public April 1 for group fitness classes, tours and meetings.

But general manager John Mills says it will take about another three months to fully convert the 32,000-square-metre building into a three-storey, multipurpose sports and fitness facility. read more

January 2010
 Speed Skating Canada

Long Track Speed Skaters Nominated to Vancouver 2010 Canadian Olympic Team - January 11, 2010


At a press conference in Calgary, today, Speed Skating Canada (SSC) nominated 16 long track speed skaters to the Canadian Olympic Committee for participation in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games. This nomination followed the Olympic Selection competition held at the Calgary Olympic Oval from December 27 to January 2nd. read more

December 2009
Georgia Straight

Richmond Olympic Oval's art showcases flow, flight, and fusion - December 17, 2009


It’s been more than a year since the Richmond Olympic Oval opened to the public. But on this late fall day, building activity continues to swirl around its exterior. Responsibility for the facility has shifted temporarily from the City of Richmond, which operates the oval as a multi-use sports and recreation centre, to Vanoc, which is readying it for the 2010 Olympic speed skating competitions. read more

December 2009

Richmond_Review.gif

 

Richmond Having the Best Winter Olympics Ever - December 17, 2009


Is it just me, or is Richmond, B.C. having the best winter Olympics ever?

It's already undisputed title holder of having the coolest 2010 Winter Games venue – the Richmond Oval.

The $178 million long-track speed skating oval was named "sexiest" 2010 facility by Omega Lifetime magazine, which drooled over...

read more

December 2009
Rmd Revealed cranberry river design-Final.jpg
click to enlarge

Olympic Rings made out of cranberries to float in the Fraser - December 3, 2009


Richmond's iconic berry—13 million of them—will be dropped into the Middle Arm of the Fraser River to form a floating tribute to the Olympics next February.

The berries will float in a form carrying the design of the Canadian Olympic Committee's logo, including a giant maple leaf and set of Olympic rings, in the river offshore from the Richmond Olympic Oval.

City officials are going one step further by...

read more

November 2009
Comedy.jpg

Join Comedy Network's Drive to Bring Stephen Colbert to Canada - November 27, 2009


Inspired and frightened by the Langley, B.C. woman who has been inexplicably going around town kicking strange men in the groin, Stephen expressed serious concern about making the trip to Vancouver in support of his beloved U.S. Speed Skating team.

We here at The Comedy Network (Canadian P.M.'s of the Colbert Nation) deeply care about Stephen's Balls. We love Stephen's Balls. We want his balls in our Country. We would be devastated if anything were to happen to those big, round, iconic symobls of truthiness and freedom.

Thus, we have created the Maple Member Minder to ensure his safety.

Here is the letter we have sent to Colbert Nation headquarters...

read more

November 2009
van_sun_nov26.jpg

Oval Named "Sexiest" Venue of the Games - November 26, 2009


The Richmond Olympic Oval has been called the "sexiest" 2010 Olympic competition venue in Omega Lifetime magazine's current issue.

An article about the 2010 Games raves about "the million or so board feet of pine lumber that holds up the building's roof in a series of graceful, soaring arches."

The magazine cover features a picture of Omega celebrity ambassador George Clooney, who has twice been named People magazine's sexiest man alive.

read more

November 2009
RichNews.JPG

Oval Signs Will Be Bilingual; VANOC Paying - November 26, 2009


TThe invitation is on the tabl"Anneau Olympique de Richmond."

Get used to seeing those words on the Richmond Olympic Speed Skating Oval. City council Monday revealed an in-camera decision to allow permanent French signage to be placed on the outside of the oval.

read more
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Richmond invites Stephen Colbert as Olympic Oval ombudsman - November 17, 2009


TThe invitation is on the table, but Stephen Colbert says he isn’t sure he can come north to the land of syrup suckers to look out for the interests of U.S. Olympic skaters during the 2010 Winter Games.

“Can I even legally work in Canada?” Mr. Colbert mused in an e-mailed statement to The Globe and Mail after receiving a letter, released Tuesday, from the “Chief Syrup Sucker” of the City of Richmond.

“Don’t I need a green card, or whatever you call it? A beaver board?”

read more

November 2009
vansun_nov16.jpg

Richmond Olympic Oval Wins Newsmaker of the Year Award - November 16, 2009

Winners of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce annual Business Excellence Awards are: Richmond Olympic Oval: Newsmaker of the Year; Con-Force Structures: Hall of Fame Award; Peter Senez, Sereca Fire Consulting: Young Entrepreneur of the Year; Sign-A-Rama Richmond: New Business of the Year; Sip Wines: Customer Service of the Year; Reid Hurst Nagy: Outstanding Workplace of the Year; Mothers Choice and Sleep Shop (tied): Business of the Year 1-20 Employees; Ideon Packaging: Business of the Year 21-50 Employees; Norsat International: Business of the Year 51+ Employees.

read more

October 2009
 ctv_olympics.JPG Richmond Olympic Oval Wins Major International Award - October 12, 2009
The Institution of Structural Engineers awarded the Richmond Olympic Oval its top award for Sports or Leisure Structures on Friday, October 9th at its annual awards gala. The Oval took top honours in a field of such outstanding international nominees as the 2008 Olympic Games’ Beijing National Stadium (a.k.a. Bird’s Nest), Beijing, China; the Wimbledon Centre Court roof, London, England; and, the New Elephant House, Copenhagen, Denmark.

read more
 
October 2009
  Journal of Commerce
 Richmond Olympic Oval Skates Around the Competition- October 2, 2009

The Richmond Olympic Oval, the speed-skating venue, has sped away with a record six silver Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) awards.

“I honestly can’t remember any other project in the 21-year history of the awards that has garnered near that many silver awards. That is truly amazing and the contractors involved should be truly proud of their involvement,” said Brian Martin, awards chairman.

read more

September 2009

Richmond_Review.gif

 		 Oval is a Green Jewel - September 26, 2009

The Richmond Olympic Oval is more than simply the city’s crown jewel. The massive 33,750-square-metre building, facing the middle arm of the Fraser River, is as environmentally-friendly as it is eye-catching.

read more


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