Project Overview
The Richmond Oval will be home to speed skating for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. A breathtaking venue on the banks of the Fraser River, the Oval will be a hallmark of sustainability, accessibility and world-class sportsmanship and will become an international gathering place for wellness and sports excellence.
The Richmond Oval, which officially opened in December, 2008, 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 will house a 400-metre track with capacity for approximately 8,000 spectators. As the host venue for a total of 12 medal events, to be held over 14 days of competition, the Oval will be one of the busiest venues during the Games.
The Oval will also play 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.
Post-Games, 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. The Post-Games configuration also allows for possible reactivation of the 400-metre speed skating track as desired.
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.
View Construction site Photos
Background Information
- 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
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
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
