Located in the City of Richmond just south of downtown Vancouver, the Richmond Olympic Oval is a multi-sport arena originally built for the 2010 Olympic Games.

The Richmond Olympic Oval Sports Complex

The Richmond Olympic Oval was built in 2008 and is the biggest sports complex in the area. At around 360,000 square feet the arena has space for a multitude of sports and other fitness-related activities.

The City of Richmond originally built the Richmond Olympic Oval for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, which took place in Vancouver and nearby municipalities. Since then, the city has converted it into a public sports facility.

Vancouver’s 2010 Winter Olympic Games

The Richmond Oval was the long-track speed skating venue for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. It also hosted several other championship events before and after the Olympics. Notable events so far have included several speed skating competitions, the 2011 World Masters Badminton Championships and the 2012 ISKF National Karate Championship.

Originally, planners intended to build the Olympic Oval at Simon Fraser University‘s Burnaby campus. However, they abandoned the plan due to rising construction costs. The City of Richmond then bid on the Olympic Oval and won in 2004.

Construction on the Oval began in 2006. The architect who designed it created several elements meant to resemble a heron. After several construction setbacks, the building officially opened in December, 2008. It was the last of the Olympic buildings to open.

Location and Hours

The Richmond Olympic Oval is located at 6111 River Road in Richmond. The Oval overlooks the Fraser River. YVR Airport is also just a short drive away.

The Oval is easily accessible via car or by public transit. Lansdowne Station on the SkyTrain‘s Canada Line is within walking distance of the facility.

Hours at the Richmond Oval vary depending on the activity. As of July, 2025, general hours for the facility are from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm on weekdays and from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm on weekends.

Fitness Activities

One of the most popular parts of the Richmond Olympic Oval is the fitness centre covering more than 23,000 square feet. There are free weights, cardio machines, weight training equipment and functional fitness equipment.

Group fitness classes also take place at the Oval. There are several studios in the facility including ones for cycling, functional training and other classes. YYOGA also offers yoga classes at the Oval.

The main floor of the Oval can be configured in different ways depending on the sport. There are three zones in total. One is an Ice Zone with two hockey rinks. There is also the Court Zone which can hold up to eight basketball courts. Finally there is the Track Zone which consists of a five-lane 200-metre running track and a five-lane 110-metre sprint track. The zones can be reconfigured to hold badminton courts, volleyball courts, table tennis tables and more.

On-Site Services

In addition to its extensive fitness facilities the Richmond Olympic Oval offers a variety of other on-site services. These include sports rehab services as well as the Oval Sport Store.

The Richmond Oval also hosts a variety of camps and other seasonal programs. There are sports camps available for children over the spring, summer and winter breaks.

Water Sky Garden

Just outside the Richmond Olympic Oval is the Water Sky Garden. It was designed by artist Janet Echelman. The garden consists of a large wetland treatment pond, a fountain, boardwalk, two pedestrian bridges and two net sculptures. The sculptures were inspired by Richmond’s cultural communities and were designed to look like sky lanterns.