Project Overview

The Richmond Olympic Oval has just hosted twelve  medal events in long track speed skating fo the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. These events attracted over 100,000 spectators to the venue and saw three Olympic records set - in the Men’s 5000m, 10000m and Team Pursuit races

Officially opened in December of 2009, this breathtaking venue on the banks of the Fraser River  is a hallmark of sustainability, accessibility and world-class sportsmanship. It will become an international gathering place for wellness and sports excellence.

The Richmond Oval, is a 32,000 square metre, multi-use facility capable of hosting a wide variety of summer and winter sports, recreation, health and wellness programs, cultural events and community activities. The Oval is located at 6111 River Road in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.

For the 2010 Games, the Oval housed a 400-metre track with capacity for approximately 8,000 spectators. It's unique and innovative design made it the signature venue for the Games and one of the Games busiest venues.

The Oval also played an important role in achieving a drug-free 2010 Olympic Winter Games as the location of the official Olympic anti-doping lab. 

Following the official opening of the Richmond Oval in December 2008, preparations for its Olympic use began. Pre-Games events included the 2008 and 2009 Canadian Single Distance Championships and the 2009 World Single Distance Championships, among other national and international speed skating and sport events.

A model for accessibility, the Oval will also host many wheelchair sports and events including the 2010 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships.

Conversion of the Richmond Olympic Oval into a centre of excellence for sport, health and wellness has already begun, with the re-opening of public programming planned for early April. The Oval’s main activity area will be transformed into three Zones: the Ice Zone, holding two international-size ice sheets; the Court Zone, with eight gymnasiums; and the Track Zone, with a 200-metre running track and 60-metre sprint track.

While the long track speed skating ice could return for a major international competition, the changes are intended to maximize community and athlete usage of the venue.

Other 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 urban waterfront neighbourhood incorporating a park and a plaza, with residential, commercial and public amenities.

The Richmond Olympic Oval will introduce thousands to sport, fitness and better health.  And for those with the talent and passion to do more, there will be opportunities to achieve international sporting success. The Oval and its programming team will provide a pathway between the two producing the next generation of locally grown champions.
 
The Oval’s re-opening in April will begin first with group fitness, followed by the venue’s expanded 23,000 square foot Fitness Centre. Filling out the rest of the venue’s 3 levels and 512,000 square feet will likely continue until the end of summer 2010.
 
For more on the legacy conversion of the Richmond Olympic Oval, including a full list of planned features for each level, please view our video:

www.richmondoval.ca/legacy_video.htm

Background Information

View Construction site Photos

• Richmond Olympic Oval Project Vision
• Oval: Fast Facts
• Olympic Oval Backgrounder
• Where to Find Us
• Events and Programming
• Richmond Oval Corporation
• Oval Sustainability Backgrounder
• Accessibility
• Public Art
• About Speed Skating
• News Releases and Updates
• Business Opportunities
• Sport Hosting
• Sport Hosting - Opportunities
• Oval: Building Form and Character
• Council and Committee Resolutions, Minutes and Reports
•  Listing of 2010 and Oval-related reports, 2002-2010
• Summary reports with links to full minutes and staff reports
•  2002
•  2003
•  2004
•  2005
•  2006
•  2007
•  2008
•  2009
•  2010

Conceptual Illustrations

• Oval Main Activity Level - Post Games
• Oval Main Activity Area - 2010 Games
• Oval Exterior - Southeast view
• Oval Exterior - Southern view
• Oval Interior Design - October 2006 [14.5mb PDF]
• 3D Exterior Elevation
• Lobby Exterior
• Lobby Interior
• Polycarbon Exterior OPTION
• Post Games Legacy Activity Levels Floor Plan 
• UPDATED Oval Elevations

 Legacy Uses

•   Oval Powerpoint Presentation - Dec 2006

Additional information
For current news and updates about the progress of the Richmond Oval, please visit the News Releases and Oval Updates page.

To view the building and construction progress of the Richmond Oval, please visit the Oval Construction page. Photos are updated on frequent basis.

For information regarding the Richmond Oval public consultation process, open houses and related documents, please visit the Public Consultation page.

The Richmond Oval Precinct and Surrounding Area Public Art Plan has been approved by Richmond City Council as a guideline for developing art opportunities for in and around the Oval, is available in the Richmond Oval Public Art page.

To learn about business opportunities related to the Richmond Oval and the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, please visit the Business Opportunities page.

Related Links
For more information on the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games visit the Vancouver Organizing Committee at www.vancouver2010.com.

For information about the Canadian Olympic Committee athletes, organization and programs, please visit www.olympic.ca.

For information about the International Olympic Committee including current and upcoming Games, sports, athletes and news, please visit www.olympic.org.

Contact Us

Richmond Olympic Oval
6111 River Road
Richmond, BC
V7C 0A2

Phone: 778-296-1400
www.richmondoval.ca