VANCOUVER—Exactly 14 months ahead of the 2010 Olympic Games, the opening of the Richmond Olympic Oval in Richmond, British Columbia, on December 12 drew thousands, many of whom were eager to try out the brand new skating rink.
The venue for long track speed skating during the Games, the oval seats 8,000 and is situated within 32 acres of City-owned land along the banks of the Fraser River. The grand structure, with its luxurious yet sustainable design, will host 12 medal events on its 400-mtere track.
The opening ceremony featured B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell, Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie, Olympic Gold Medallists Kyle Hamilton and Cindy Klassen, as well as an array of other athletic figures and performances.
“It’s just so special to be here,” said Klassen. “I mean, the oval’s so beautiful, and it’s where the Olympics is going to be held. It’s an honour to be here today.”
Hamilton, who grew up in Richmond, said that the Games are often out of reach for many, yet this facility “brings the Olympics home to Richmond,” giving the community “a chance to see up close the excellence of their [Olympians’] actions.”
The oval is unique in more ways than one. The $178 million project will be the only Winter Games venue built by someone other than the Vancouver Organizing Committee, with inputs from the City of Richmond, British Columbia, and Canada.
“All of us here helped to make this happen,” said Mayor Brodie. He described the oval as “the place where successive generations are going to participate … where memories will be made ... where dreams will be realized.”
The oval is not merely the landmark venue of the Games, but also a representation of green design. As Vancouver is famous for its rainfall, much of the rainwater on the five and a half-acre roof of the building will be collected to supplement toilet flushing, while the rest will be directed into a scenic pond to be located on the east side of the facility.
The uniquely designed “wave panels” in the ceiling consist of a newly engineered composite wood panel made from B.C. mountain pine beetle kill wood, a timber that would otherwise be left to rot.
Following the opening ceremony, bursts of fireworks marked the launch of a free public skating session. Hundreds of young skaters swirled on the ice with the three Olympic mascots, Quatchi, Sumi and Miga.
“I feel very proud,” said Marika Ball, a retired teacher, who attended the event with her 87-year-old mother. “I’m proud not only of the accomplishment of this amazing speed skating oval. I’m proud to be Canadian at this moment.”
After the Olympics are over, the oval will be transformed into an international multi-sport centre for competitions and community events. It will have the capability of hosting both summer and winter sports simultaneously.
“I think it’s great that it’s going to be for the public, to change this into a community centre where you can play all sorts of different kinds of sports,” said Klassen. “I think it’s so good for the community — it’s going to get people to be even more active.”
Prior to the Olympics, the oval will host the Canadian Single Distance Championships, its first major speed skating competition, from December 27 to January 2, and the World Single Distance Championship from March 12-15, 2009.
The celebrations continue on Saturday night. The opening was presented by the Bay.
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