View source for Richmond Olympic Oval

{{Infobox stadium
| name                = Richmond Olympic Oval
| nickname            = 
| logo_image = [[File:Richmond Olympic Oval Logo.svg|210px]]
| image               = [[File:Water Sky Garden At Richmond Olympic Oval.jpg|210px]]
| image_caption = The Olympic Oval with [[Water Sky Garden]] sculpture by [[Janet Echelman]]
| fullname            = Richmond Olympic Oval
| former_names        =  
| location            = 6111 River Road, [[Richmond, British Columbia]], [[Canada]]
| coordinates         = {{coord|49|10|29|N|123|9|5|W|type:landmark_region:CA|display=title,inline}}
| broke_ground        = 17 November 2006
| built               =  
| opened              = 12 December 2008
| renovated           =  
| expanded            =  
| closed              =  
| demolished          =  
| owner               = [[Richmond City Council (Richmond, British Columbia)|City of Richmond]]
| operator            = Richmond Olympic Oval Corporation
| surface             =  
| scoreboard          =  
| construction_cost   = $178 million
| architect           = [[CannonDesign]]
| project_manager     = Colliers Project Leaders
| structural engineer = Fast + Epp, Glotman Simpson
| services engineer   =  
| general_contractor  =  
| main_contractors    =  
| capacity            = 8,000
| record_attendance   =  
| dimensions          =  
| tenants             = [[2009 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships]]<br>[[2010 Winter Olympics]]<br> Greater Vancouver Canadians ([[BC Hockey Major Midget League|BCMML]]) (2012–)<br>[[Vancouver Dragons]] ([[American Basketball Association (2000–present)|ABA]]) (2018–2019)<br>[[Vancouver Knights]] ([[North American Premier Basketball|NAPB]]) (2018)
}}

The '''Richmond Olympic Oval''' ({{langx|fr|Anneau olympique de Richmond}}) is an indoor multi-sports [[arena]] in the [[Canada|Canadian]] city of [[Richmond, British Columbia]]. The oval was built for the [[2010 Winter Olympics]] and was originally configured with a [[speed skating rink]]. The venue has since been reconfigured and now serves as a community multi-sport park and includes two [[ice hockey rink]]s, two running tracks, a [[climbing wall]], a [[rowing tank]] and a flexible area which can be used for, among other sports, [[basketball]], [[volleyball]], [[indoor soccer]] and [[table tennis]].

The [[Bids for the 2010 Winter Olympics|Olympic bid]] called for the oval to be located on the grounds of [[Simon Fraser University]] (SFU) in [[Burnaby]], but Richmond was instead selected in 2004. Although twice the price of the SFU alternative, the location was selected because the city offered to cover all costs exceeding $60 million. Construction started in 2006, cost $178 million [[Canadian Dollar|CAD]] and the venue opened on 12 December 2008. In addition to [[speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics]], the venue has hosted the [[2009 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships]]. Designed by [[CannonDesign]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Richmond Olympic Oval {{!}} CannonDesign {{!}} CannonDesign |url=https://www.cannondesign.com/work/richmond-olympic-oval |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=www.cannondesign.com |language=en}}</ref> the oval's elements are made to resemble the [[heron]].

==Construction==
Work on Vancouver's bid process started in 1998 by the Vancouver/Whistler 2010 Bid Society, replaced by the Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation in 2002.<ref name=ackerman>{{cite web |url=http://www.news1130.com/2010/02/05/history-of-the-vancouver-olympic-bid/ |title=History of the Vancouver Olympic Bid |last=Ackerman |first=John |publisher=News 1130 |date=5 February 2010 |access-date=6 October 2013}}</ref> SFU started planning their grounds as a potential speed skating oval in 2000,<ref name=sfu>{{cite web |url=https://www.sfu.ca/archive-sfunews/sfu_news/archives/sfunews09090406.shtml |title=Richmond awarded Olympic Oval |publisher=[[Simon Fraser University]] |date=9 September 2004 |access-date=6 October 2013}}</ref> SFU pledged to finance $5 million of the venue, in addition to the land.<ref name=hui>{{cite web |url=http://www.the-peak.ca/2004/05/campus-sfu-may-lose-olympic-oval-to-ubc/ |title=SFU may lose Olympic oval to UBC |last=Hui |first=Stephen |date=17 May 2004 |work=[[The Peak (newspaper)|The Peak]] |access-date=6 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304204243/http://www.the-peak.ca/2004/05/campus-sfu-may-lose-olympic-oval-to-ubc/ |archive-date=4 March 2014 }}</ref> The 2010 Games Operating Trust was established in November 2002 with a capital of $110 million, equally financed by the provincial and federal governments, to subsidize post-Olympic operation of selected venues. Forty percent of the payouts would be used to cover the operating costs of the speed skating oval.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/whistler/25-million-to-operate-olympic-venues/Content?oid=2158809 |title=$2.5 million to operate Olympic venues |last=Taylor |first=Alison |work=[[Pique Newsmagazine]] |date=26 October 2007 |access-date=6 October 2013}}</ref>

[[File:Richmond Olympic Oval front view 2.jpg|thumb|left]]
The bid book called for the speed skating oval to be located on the premises of Simon Fraser University atop [[Burnaby Mountain]] in Burnaby. This would result in both of Greater Vancouver's major universities receiving a new sports venue, as the [[Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre]] ice hockey rink would be built at the [[University of British Columbia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesbids.com/english/bids/vancouver.shtml |title=Vancouver, Canada |publisher=[[GamesBids]]}}</ref> The bid book cited a construction cost of $63.7 million,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fin.gov.bc.ca/reports/Due_dilligence_PLA.pdf |title=Due Diligence Review of the 2010 Winter Games Venue Program |publisher=Pacific Liaicon and Associates |date=19 May 2006 |access-date=6 October 2013}}</ref> which would give a {{convert|20000|m2|sp=us|adj=on}} arena and met all requirements for speed skating at the Olympics.<ref name=fuming>{{cite web |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/incoming/sfu-fuming-as-2010-site-goes-to-richmond/article1139593/ |title=SFU fuming as 2010 site goes to Richmond |work=[[Canadian Press]] |date=17 August 2004 |access-date=6 October 2013}}</ref> The post-Olympic operating costs of the oval, along with the [[Whistler Sliding Centre]] and [[Whistler Olympic Park]], were according to the bid book to be covered by $71 million [[financial endowment|endowment]] trust.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.policyalternatives.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/publications/BC_Office_Pubs/olympics_costbenefit.pdf |title=Olympic Costs & Benefits |last=Shaffer |first=Marvin |last2=Greer |first2=Alan |last3=Mauboules |first3=Celine |publisher=[[Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives]] |date=February 2003 |page=16 |isbn=0-88627-307-2 |access-date=6 October 2013}}</ref> The legacy plans for the venue were to convert it to a multi-sports park, with the speed skating track being removed.<ref name=sfu />

Two months after being awarded the games on 2 July 2003, the responsibility for planning the Olympics were transferred to the [[Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games]] (VANOC).<ref name=ackerman /> They started reviewing the plans for the various venues, and costs started to increase for the oval. At the same time the [[Richmond City Council (Richmond, British Columbia)|Richmond City Council]] started working on plans to instead locate the venue there.<ref name=fuming /> UBC also started working on a proposal for a speed skating oval in the [[University Endowment Lands]], which could then be built in conjunction with the hockey arena. Chris Giacomantonio, president of the Simon Fraser Student Society, stated that he was opposed to the project, as the university's contribution would give little benefit for students. The anticipated [[cost overrun]]s were caused both because of a general shortage in construction labor, and challenging geological conditions at the proposed site.<ref name=hui />

Two formal proposals were submitted: one from Richmond and a revised bid from SFU. The Richmond bid was for a significantly larger venue, at {{convert|33000|m2|sp=us}}. Unlike SFU, the city was willing to pay for most of the construction cost, including all cost overruns, limiting VANOC's costs to $60 million.<ref name=fuming /> The budget for the Richmond Olympic Oval was $155 million,<ref name=sfu /> while the cost of building a venue at SFU was $78.6 million.<ref name=lashes>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/richmond-b-c-wins-bid-to-build-olympic-oval-burnaby-mayor-lashes-out-1.477745 |title=Richmond, B.C. wins bid to build Olympic oval; Burnaby mayor lashes out |publisher=[[CBC Sports]] |date=18 August 2006 |access-date=6 October 2013}}</ref> VANOC announced on 17 August 2004 that they had selected Richmond as the site of the Olympic oval. VANOC stated that in addition to a cost cap, the Richmond alternative featured better transport, as it would be located on the [[SkyTrain (Vancouver)|SkyTrain]]'s [[Canada Line]].<ref name=fuming /> Burnaby Mayor [[Derek Corrigan]] stated that the price increases were subject to [[cost escalation]] caused by increased general construction costs, rather than cost overrun.<ref name=lashes />

[[File:2010 Winter Olympics, Richmond Olympic Oval.jpg|thumb|Interior of the Richmond Olympic Oval during the [[2010 Vancouver Olympics]]]]
Planning of the venue was centered around its post-Olympic use, rather than its function during the games. It was incorporated into the River Green development project, which saw $2 billion spent on real estate development along the section of the Fraser River. Financing of the venue was split between Richmond City Council and VANOC, with the former guaranteeing for any cost overruns.<ref name=judd>{{cite web |url=http://seattletimes.com/html/restlessnative/2014280249_restless20.html |title=Vancouver Olympics leave a legacy of gain and financial pain |last=Judd |first=Ron |work=[[The Seattle Times]] |date=19 February 2011 |access-date=6 October 2013}}</ref> The city allocated its funding for the venue from several sources: $50 million in revenue sharing with [[River Rock Casino Resort]], $54 million from the nearby real estate development, and the remainder from sponsorships and fees on near-by projects.<ref name=lee>{{cite web |url=http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=37e82400-9388-4ad7-9264-a6665fb397ed |title=Speed-skating oval for divas |last=Lee |first=Jeff |work=[[Vancouver Sun]] |date=16 February 2006 |access-date=6 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140321222328/http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=37e82400-9388-4ad7-9264-a6665fb397ed |archive-date=21 March 2014 }}</ref>

The venue's main architect was Bob Johnston, of Canon Design, who had previously worked on the [[Olympic Oval]] in [[Calgary]] and the [[Utah Olympic Oval]] in [[Salt Lake City]]. A [[feng shui]] consultant was used during the design process as its implementation is important to the large [[Chinese Canadian]] population in Richmond. The initial design cost $206 million, but this was cut back by removing features. One that was kept was an underground parking lot under the venue, which increased construction cost by $23 million. The city split the construction work into 23 separate contracts. The city sent delegations to sixteen ovals around the world, costing $459,000. It was topped off on spending $120,000 to send nine officials, including the mayor and a councilor, to attend the [[2006 Winter Olympics]].<ref name=lee /> Project management was contracted to MHPM Project Managers, construction manager was Dominion Fairmile Construction and structural engineers were [[Fast + Epp]] and Glotman Simpson, with the former responsible for the roof structure and [[façade]] and the latter for the base building.  [https://structurecraft.com/projects/richmond-olympic-oval StructureCraft] designed, manufactured and erected the 452 wood wave panels of the roof.<ref name=naturallywood>{{cite web |url=http://www.naturallywood.com/sites/default/files/Richmond-Olympic-Oval-Case-Study.pdf |title=Richmond Olympic Oval Case Study |publisher=Naturally Wood |access-date=12 October 2013}}</ref>

The {{convert|7|ha}} plot of land next to the venue was placed for sale during the development. Initially asking for $40 million, the lot was sold for $141 million. Additional land was bought by developers, resulting in the oval being surrounded by luxury condos. The neighborhood was planned to be pedestrian-friendly, and there were no at-grade parking. The River Green project is part of Richmond's plan to become more urban and less suburban and build up community centers, backed with the arrival of the Canada Line.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/home-and-garden/real-estate/development-trips-into-high-gear-around-richmonds-oval/article10807075/ |title=Development trips into high gear around Richmond’s Oval |last=Gold |first=Kerry |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |date=5 April 2013 |access-date=6 October 2013}}</ref>

[[File:Richmond Oval.JPG|thumb|left|Construction on 28 June 2007]]
A 2005 geological report concluded that the venue would have geological challenges, similar to those which had been used as argument to move them from Burnaby Mountain. The venue is built in a [[river delta]] on top of up to {{convert|300|m|sp=us}} of [[silt]], and the report warned that despite the design measures, significant seismic activity prior to the Olympics could mean that the venue bed would not be flat enough. The [[International Skating Union]] only allows a deviation of {{convert|3|mm|sp=us}} per {{convert|3|m|sp=us}} of track, and {{convert|20|mm|sp=us}} along the entire course. VANOC's official back-up plan was, in case of a major earthquake, to move speed skating events to Calgary. Construction began with the compressing of the ground, which included bolstering two thousand columns of rock down {{convert|26|m|sp=us}} and the piling of {{convert|100000|m3|sp=us}} of sand on the site. A December 2005 report found that this was not sufficient, resulting in [[Franki Piling System|franki piles]] also being installed. To finance this, $1.9 million was cut by reducing the building's width by {{convert|4.5|m|sp=us}}. To minimize the risk of [[flooding]], the height of the [[Levee|dike]] between the venue and the river was raised from {{convert|3|to|6|m|sp=us|0}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canada.com/globaltv/bc/news/story.html?id=9828605f-b7b7-470f-870f-43390e8ae331&k=84127 |title=Speed-skating oval for divas |last=Bramham |first=D. |work=[[Vancouver Sun]] |date=17 March 2006 |access-date=6 October 2013}}</ref>

Construction required the pouring of {{convert|335280|m3|sp=us}} of concrete, the use of 5,600 tonnes of steel and 305 board-kilometers (one million board-feet) of pine beetle wood.<ref name=about>{{cite web |url=http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-spectator-guide/venues/richmond-olympic-oval/sustainability---legacy/ |title=Richmond Olympic Oval
 |publisher=[[Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100311022235/http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-spectator-guide/venues/richmond-olympic-oval/sustainability---legacy/ |archive-date=11 March 2010 |access-date=6 October 2013}}</ref> The roof was completed in January 2008, but in April [[fungi]] and [[algae]] were discovered in the lower [[building insulation|insulation]] layer of the roof. To get at the area, seventy percent of the roof's membrane needed to be detached and replaced. The replacement cost $2 million, with the city claiming the amount compensated from the contractor.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/incomplete-olympic-oval-in-richmond-b-c-needs-repair-1.750945 |title=Incomplete Olympic oval in Richmond, B.C., needs repair |work=[[CBC News]] |date=April 17, 2008 |access-date=October 6, 2013}}</ref> 

When the venue opened on 12 December 2008,<ref name=open>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/richmond-olympic-oval-opens-to-public-1.770153 |title=Richmond Olympic Oval opens to public |work=[[CBC News]] |date=13 December 2008 |access-date=6 October 2013}}</ref> it was the last of the Olympic venues to be completed.<ref name=judd2>{{cite web |url=http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/olympics/2008/07/11/heres_your_publicly_financed_a.html |title=Here's your publicly financed arena: Check out the new Richmond Oval |last=Judd |first=Ron |work=[[The Seattle Times]] |date=11 July 2008 |access-date=6 October 2013}}</ref> The Richmond Olympic Oval Corporation was created as a municipal corporation in 2010, with the sole purpose of operating the venue.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://richmondoval.ca/venue/about/corporation.htm |title=The Corporation |publisher=Richmond Olympic Oval Corporation |access-date=6 October 2013}}</ref>

Following the Olympics, the venue was transformed into a community multi-sports park, which opened in April 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://richmondoval.ca/docs/2009_annual_report_lores.pdf |title=2009 Annual Report |publisher=Richmond Olympic Oval Corporation |date=30 April 2010 |pages=25–27 |access-date=6 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610213903/http://richmondoval.ca/docs/2009_annual_report_lores.pdf |archive-date=10 June 2015 }}</ref> Bleachers for 800 spectators were sold to be used for the [[Vancouver Island University]] gymnasium. Costing $300,000 new, they were sold for $4000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nanaimodailynews.com/viu-replaces-old-bleachers-with-seats-from-richmond-olympic-oval-burrett-finishes-strong-at-ottawa-10k-cu-na-mara-leads-the-way-for-yacht-club-1.310951 |title=VIU replaces old bleachers with seats from Richmond Olympic Oval |last=Aldrich |first=Josh |work=[[Nanaimo Daily News]] |date=27 May 2013 |access-date=8 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610194630/http://www.nanaimodailynews.com/viu-replaces-old-bleachers-with-seats-from-richmond-olympic-oval-burrett-finishes-strong-at-ottawa-10k-cu-na-mara-leads-the-way-for-yacht-club-1.310951 |archive-date=10 June 2015 }}</ref>

==Facilities==
The facility is located on at 6111 River Road in Richmond, immediately south of [[Vancouver]],<ref name=trans>{{cite web |url=http://richmondoval.ca/venue/city/getting_here.htm |title=Getting to Richmond & The Oval |publisher=Richmond Olympic Oval Corporation |access-date=6 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620134254/http://richmondoval.ca/venue/city/getting_here.htm |archive-date=20 June 2013 }}</ref> on the south shore of the [[Fraser River]].<ref name=fuming /> The building is {{convert|200|m|sp=us}} long and {{convert|100|m|sp=us}} wide; the roof covers an area of {{convert|2.6|ha}}, while the building is {{convert|33600|m2|sp=us}}.<ref name=about /> The main design inspiration is the [[heron]], the official bird of Richmond. The roof is held up using fifteen [[glued laminated timber]] beams, and is designed to resemble the wings of the heron.<ref>{{cite web|title=Richmond Olympic Oval / Cannon Design|url=https://www.archdaily.com/49705/winter-olympics-2010-vancouver-skating-richmond-olympic-oval-cannon-design|last=Staff|publisher=ArchDaily|date=February 12, 2010|access-date=December 2, 2019}}</ref>

[[File:2009 WSD Speed Skating Championships - 01.jpg|thumb|The oval during the [[2009 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships]]]]
The oval's roof uses [[pine beetle]] damaged wood, which was selected as a showpiece to aid the use of a material which has caused a negative economic impact in many British Columbia communities. The building received [[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design]] (LEED) Silver certification. Environmental design includes the capture of rain water on the roof and the recycling of waste heat energy from the refrigeration system for the ice surfaces.<ref name=about />

The Olympic configuration, which was in place from the opening until April 2010, consisted of a {{convert|400|m|sp=us|adj=on|0}} [[speed skating rink]]. While configured for speed skating, the venue had a capacity for 8,000 spectators, of which 7,336 were bucket seats. In addition there were 200 broadcast commentator positions and 200 seated press positions. Four [[scoreboard]]s and four videoboards were mounted in the arena and the Olympic [[doping in sports|doping]] laboratory was located at the oval.<ref name=about />

After the games the venue was reconfigured. The upper level consists of a fitness center with views of the [[North Shore (Vancouver)|North Shore]] mountains and the river and houses more than 200 pieces of equipment. The main floor consists of three activity zones: the Ice Zone consists of two [[ice hockey rink]]s with international dimensions, the Court Zone consists of ten [[basketball court]]s and the Track Zone consists of a five-lane {{convert|200|m|sp=us|adj=on}} oval running track and a five-lane {{convert|110|m|sp=us|adj=on}} sprint track. A [[climbing wall]] is installed at the Track Zone, which offers thirty-one climbing routes. The venue can variously be configured to hold eighteen [[badminton]] courts, thirteen [[volleyball court]]s, ten basketball courts, three [[indoor soccer]] fields or sixteen [[table tennis table]]s.<ref name=city /> Within the oval running track is areas for in-field [[athletics (sport)|athletics]]. A [[rowing tank]] has been built at the facility.<ref name=city />

Outside the venue is [[Water Sky Garden]], a sculptural environment designed by [[Janet Echelman]]. A 91-meter (300&nbsp;ft) boardwalk weaves through the pond and two 16-meter (52&nbsp;ft) pedestrian bridges cross the pond to reach the Olympic Oval. Above the pond hangs the artist's "sky lantern" sculpture. The sculpture is made of Tenara architectural fibre, supported by painted galvanized steel rings. The entire garden is approximately 7,000 m<sup>2</sup> (75,000 sq ft).<ref name='WaterSkyGarden'>{{cite web|url=http://www.echelman.com/portfolio/olympicoval/images/WaterSkyGardenFactSheet.pdf |title=Water Sky Garden Fact Sheet |publisher=Janet Echelman, Inc.  |access-date=6 October 2013}}</ref>

{{Speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics}}
The oval is within walking distance of [[Lansdowne Station (TransLink)|Lansdowne Station]] on the [[SkyTrain (Vancouver)|SkyTrain]]'s [[Canada Line]]. Alternatively, the venue can be reached using the [[Coast Mountain Bus Company|C94 bus]], which connects to [[Richmond–Brighouse Station]].<ref name=trans /> Parking is available, with 450 parking spaces being located on the structure's lower level.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cms.city.richmond.bc.ca/Page8308.aspx |title=Where to Find Us |publisher=[[Richmond City Council (Richmond, British Columbia)|Richmond City Council]] |access-date=6 October 2013}}</ref> The venue is in the immediate vicinity of [[Vancouver International Airport]].<ref name=trans />

The roof won the 2009 [[Structural Awards]] ''Award for Sports or Leisure Structures''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.richmond.ca/newsevents/2009_city/Ovalstructuralengaward2009.htm|title=Richmond Olympic oval bests Bird’s Nest|publisher=City of [[Richmond, British Columbia|Richmond]]|date=12 October 2009|access-date=25 March 2014}}</ref> The other three entries nominated for the award were the roof of Wimbledon [[Centre Court]], the elephant house at the [[Copenhagen Zoo]], and [[Beijing National Stadium]] (also known as the ''Bird's Nest'') used for the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] and [[2008 Summer Paralympics|Paralympics]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nce.co.uk/news/structures/structural-awards-shortlist-announced/5205799.article|title=Structural awards shortlist announced|journal=[[New Civil Engineer]] New Civil Engineer.|publisher=EMAP Publishing Limited|date=27 July 2009|access-date=25 March 2014}}</ref>

==Events==
[[File:Keiichiro Nagashima 2010.jpg|thumb|left|Japan's [[Keiichiro Nagashima]] competing in the [[Speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's 500 metres|men's 500 meters]] during the Olympics]]

Prior to the venue being official opened, there were international World Cup trials conducted from 17 to 20 October 2008.<ref name=speedskatingnews /> The first week after the venue opened, it was open to the public for speed skating.<ref name=open /> In its inaugural season, the oval was used for the Canadian Single Distance Championships from 27 to 31 December 2008, the BC Speed Skating Long Track Championships from 24 to 25 January 2009, the Canadian Junion Allround Championships 2009 from 30 to 31 January, the Canada Cup from 30 January to 1 February, the 2nd Masters International Canadian Open from 21 to 22 February and the [[2009 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships]] from 12 to 15 March.<ref name=speedskatingnews />

The Olympic season saw international trials taking place on 17 to 20 October 2009, and 6, 8 and 10 February 2010. The 2010 Winter Olympics were conducted between 12 and 28 February.<ref name=speedskatingnews /> Twelve events were organized during the games, consisting of five individual and one team pursuit race for each gender.  More than 100,000 people attended the Olympic events at the oval.<ref name=city>{{cite web |url=http://cms.city.richmond.bc.ca/Page3310.aspx |title=Venue Overview |publisher=[[Richmond City Council (Richmond, British Columbia)|Richmond City Council]]}}</ref>

Major post-Olympic events include the 2010 [[World Wheelchair Rugby Championships]], the 2011 World Masters Badminton Championships and 2012 ISKF National Karate Championship.<ref name=city /> In 2014, the venue selected to host to the [[2014 Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Photos: 2014 Pacific Rim Gymnastic Championships in Richmond|url=https://www.straight.com/blogra/625666/photos-2014-pacific-rim-gymnastic-championships-richmond|last=Staff|publisher=The Georgia Straight|date=April 14, 2014|access-date=December 2, 2019}}</ref>

==Track records==
[[File:Women's 5000m Speed Skating Pair 8.jpg|thumb|Germany's [[Daniela Anschütz-Thoms]] (right) and the Czech Republic's [[Martina Sáblíková]] at the [[Speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Women's 5000 metres|women's 5000 meters]] during the Olympics; Sáblíková won and set a rink record in this race.]]
[[File:2009 WSD Speed Skating Championships - 33.jpg|thumb|The Netherlands' [[Sven Kramer]], [[Wouter olde Heuvel]] and [[Carl Verheijen]] in men's team pursuit during the [[2009 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships]]]]

The Richmond Olympic Oval is located at {{convert|4|m|sp=us}} [[above mean sea level]] (AMSL).<ref name=speedskatingnews>{{cite web |url=http://www.speedskatingnews.info/?page_id=826&bahn=KARI |title=Rink card of: Richmond Olympic Oval Richmond |publisher=SpeedSkatingNews}}</ref> The higher air pressure compared to high-elevation venues means that the venue will have slow ice, with the organizers not expecting any world records to be beaten during the Olympics.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/olympic-construction-nears-completion-as-oval-opens-1.728582 |title=Olympic construction nears completion as Oval opens |publisher=[[CBC News]] |date=12 December 2008}}</ref> [[List of speed skating records|Three Olympic records]] were set in the oval;<ref name=speedskatingnews /> all but one of the remaining Olympic records have been set in Salt Lake City, located at an elevation of {{convert|1300|m|sp=us}} AMSL, and all world records are set in Salt Lake City or Calgary, located at {{convert|1000|m|sp=us}}.<ref name=livescience>{{cite web |url=http://www.livescience.com/9812-altitude-limit-olympic-performances.html |title=Altitude Could Limit Some Olympic Performances |publisher=[[LiveScience]] |date=18 February 2010}}</ref> As of 2013, the Richmond Olympic Oval is ranked as the world's eleventh-fastest ice.{{#tag:ref|The fastest ice is measured by comparing the accumulative rink records of Olympic disciplines.|group=note}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.speedskatingnews.info/?page_id=837&lang=en |title=Overview of the track records |publisher=SpeedSkatingNews}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ Track records<ref name=speedskatingnews />
! scope=col | Distance
! scope=col | Gender
! scope=col | Skater
! scope=col | Nationality
! scope=col | Time
! scope=col | Date
! scope=col class=unsortable | Note
|-
! scope=row align=right | [[World record progression 500 m speed skating men|500 m]]
|| Men || [[Lee Kang-seok]] || {{flagicon|South Korea}} South Korea || align=right | 34.80 || [[2009 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|{{dts|2009|03|15|format=dmy}}]] || align=center | —
|-
! scope=row align=right | [[World record progression 1000 m speed skating men|1000 m]]
|| Men || [[Shani Davis]] || {{flagicon|United States}} United States || align=right | 1:08.94 || [[Speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's 1000 metres|{{dts|2010|02|17|format=dmy}}]] || align=center | —
|-
! scope=row align=right | [[World record progression 1500 m speed skating men|1500 m]]
|| Men  || [[Mark Tuitert]] || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Netherlands || align=right | 1:45.57 || [[Speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's 1500 metres|{{dts|2010|02|20|format=dmy}}]] || align=center | —
|-
! scope=row align=right | [[World record progression 3000 m speed skating men|3000 m]]
|| Men  || [[Sven Kramer]] || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Netherlands || align=right | 3:40.51 || {{dts|2010|02|06|format=dmy}} ||
|-
! scope=row align=right | [[World record progression 5000 m speed skating men|5000 m]]
|| Men  || [[Sven Kramer]] || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Netherlands || align=right | 6:14.60 || [[Speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's 5000 metres|{{dts|2010|02|13|format=dmy}}]] || Olympic record
|-
! scope=row align=right | [[World record progression 10000 m speed skating men|10000 m]]
|| Men || [[Sven Kramer]] || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Netherlands || align=right | 12:55.32 || [[2009 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|{{dts|2009|03|15|format=dmy}}]] || align=center | —
|-
! scope=row align=right | Team pursuit<br>8 laps
|| Men || [[Jan Blokhuijsen]]<br>[[Sven Kramer]]<br>[[Mark Tuitert]] || {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Netherlands || align=right | 3:39.95 || [[Speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's team pursuit|{{dts|2010|02|27|format=dmy}}]] || Olympic record
|-
! scope=row align=right | [[World record progression 500 m speed skating women|500 m]]
|| Women || [[Jenny Wolf]] || {{flagicon|Germany}} Germany || align=right | 37.72 || [[2009 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|{{dts|2009|03|15|format=dmy}}]] || align=center | —
|-
! scope=row align=right | [[World record progression 1000 m speed skating women|1000 m]]
|| Women  || [[Christine Nesbitt]] || {{flagicon|Canada}} Canada || align=right | 1:16.28 || [[2009 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|{{dts|2009|03|14|format=dmy}}]] || align=center | —
|-
! scope=row align=right | [[World record progression 1500 m speed skating women|1500 m]]
|| Women  || [[Christine Nesbitt]] || {{flagicon|Canada}} Canada || align=right | 1:56.89 || {{dts|2009|10|18|format=dmy}} || align=center | {{#tag:ref|[[Ireen Wüst]] also skated 1:56.89 at the [[Speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Women's 1500 metres|2010 Winter Olympics]] on 21 February 2010, winning a gold medal.|group=note}}
|-
! scope=row align=right | [[World record progression 3000 m speed skating women|3000 m]]
|| Women  || [[Martina Sáblíková]] || {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} Czech Republic || align=right | 4:02.53 || [[Speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Women's 3000 metres|{{dts|2010|02|14|format=dmy}}]] || align=center | —
|-
! scope=row align=right | [[World record progression 5000 m speed skating women|5000 m]]
|| Women  || [[Martina Sáblíková]] || {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} Czech Republic || align=right | 6:50.92 || [[Speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Women's 5000 metres|{{dts|2010|02|24|format=dmy}}]] || align=center | —
|-
! scope=row align=right | Team pursuit<br>6 laps
|| Women || [[Kristina Groves]]<br>[[Christine Nesbitt]]<br>[[Brittany Schussler]]|| {{flagicon|Canada}} Canada || align=right | 2:58.25|| [[2009 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|{{dts|2009|03|15|format=dmy}}]] || align=center | —
|}

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Richmond Olympic Oval}}
* [http://www.richmondoval.ca/ Official website]

{{2010 Winter Olympic venues}}
{{Olympic venues in speed skating}}

[[Category:Venues of the 2010 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic speed skating venues]]
[[Category:Speed skating in Canada]]
[[Category:Indoor speed skating venues]]
[[Category:Ice hockey venues in British Columbia]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Richmond, British Columbia]]
[[Category:2008 establishments in British Columbia]]
[[Category:Speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Sports venues in British Columbia]]
[[Category:Badminton venues]]
[[Category:Basketball venues in Canada]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 2008]]