You may know the Richmond Olympic Oval for its Summer Sport Camps, drop-in sport and fitness activities, or personal training, but did you know that over 70 local, provincial and national sport organizations look to the Oval to house their practices, games and training?
With an expansive activity level and various surfaces like hard courts and rubberized flooring, the Oval can accommodate a wide range of sports, including basketball, baseball, volleyball, gymnastics, figure skating, speed skating, hockey, table tennis, soccer, track and field, and many more.
On any given day, you could walk into the Oval and see DRIVE Basketball athletes dribbling on the courts, Aura Rhythmic Gymnastics athletes perfecting their routines, Richmond Rockets skaters developing their short track speed skating on the ice, or hear Connaught figure skaters practicing their short program routines.
Popular for its versatile second-floor facilities, the Oval also offers a complement of High Performance training services through its Integrated Support Team. Services provided through Oval High Performance include a variety of training options beyond strength and conditioning, including support with mental performance, performance testing, sport nutrition and concussion testing, among others. Local groups like Thunder Rowing and the Greater Vancouver Canadians utilize OVALHP’s strength and conditioning services. Peak Basketball trains in the early morning on the courts followed by strength and conditioning in the High Performance Training Centre. In addition, national groups like Volleyball Canada and Climbing Escalade Canada have made the Oval their official training centre.
Ensuring all athletes have access to world-class training is essential to the Oval, demonstrated through ongoing work with groups like Wheelchair Rugby Canada, BC Wheelchair Sports Association, BC Wheelchair Basketball Society, and Sport Ability BC. Athletes from Wheelchair Rugby Canada and Wheelchair Basketball Canada train on Oval courts, and some utilize the High Performance Training Centre for strength and conditioning. The Oval also plays host to a variety of adaptive sporting events like the Wheelchair Rugby Canada Cup and Hoopfest among many others.
Learn more about the various groups that train at the Oval here, and discover High Performance user groups here.