Spectacular Opening Planned for Richmond Olympic Oval
18 November 2008
Be among the first to skate on the ice at the Richmond Olympic Oval and enjoy spectacular live entertainment when the Oval officially opens on Friday, December 12 and Saturday, December 13.
The opening night festival will be held Friday December 12 from 4:30 to 10 p.m. and will feature official opening ceremonies, special entertainment, building tours, and the first public skate on the Oval track. Opening night events are free and tickets are not required but get there early as seating is limited. Highlights of the opening night ceremonies will also be broadcast in a special one hour live special on CTV.
The festivities will continue from noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 13 with a community open house featuring public skating, entertainment, building tours and more.
Live entertainment on the mainstage begins at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, December 12 with the official opening ceremonies commencing at 5 p.m. The opening ceremonies will include the breathtaking aerial dance of the Aeriosa Dance as they perform their mid-air ballet suspended from the Oval’s spectacular wood roof, followed by a ceremonial ribbon cutting with a bang that will open the Oval’s 400-metre track up for skating.
At ice level, Quebec’s Le Patin Libre will entertain with their alternative take on an ice show, which combines figure skating, acrobatics, barrel jumping and fire breathing with hip hop and other dance and skating elements. Local skating groups will join in the performance which also features audience interaction.
The acclaimed 15th Field Artillery Regiment Band, popularly known as Vancouver’s “Army Band” will also perform with special guest Alexandria Beck, North America's first female 'opera-crossover' singer and rising star from Richmond, now living in London, England. The evening’s entertainment will also include performances from a variety of local musicians, dancers and drummers.
Attendees will also have an opportunity to take tours of the new Oval - with a twist. Actors will guide groups of people throughout the various areas of the Oval, using comedy and participatory activities to excite and engage participants, while highlighting the special features of the facility.
A number of 45-minute public skating sessions will be held on both Friday and Saturday. Some skates will be available for rent, but the public is encouraged to bring their own skates.
Public parking for the event will be in designated offsite parking lots and on neighbourhood streets. Event parking is limited so spectators are encouraged to carpool, take transit or walk to the Oval.
Watch the City’s website at www.richmond.ca for more details on the opening.
