The Richmond Olympic Oval hosted the speed skating events for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
As Canada had an established speed skating oval, a legacy of the 1988 Calgary Olympics, maintaining long-term use for long-track speed skating was considered impractical. Post-Games, the Oval instead supports a wide variety of sports and community functions, with two ice rinks, eight gymnasiums, a running track and a fitness centre.
Legacy design, financing and governance issues were considered well before the Games in 2010:
- The Oval’s operating and maintenance costs are partially funded by a trust established in 2003 with contributions from two levels of government. The trust is governed by a board appointed by the federal, provincial and municipal governments and the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committees.
- A municipal corporation with responsibility for operating the Oval and implementing and supporting a variety of long-term community services was established in 2008.
- The Oval was designed to be reconfigured post-Games for a variety of different sports and community functions, with 1.1 million visits in 2019.
Source: Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games; International Olympic Committee
