Olympic Oval
December 16, 2008 - 18.29
[33 images]
Last Friday was the opening of the Richmond Olympic Oval, which is the venue built for the long track speed skating event of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. There was a ceremony held there with various performances. The admission was free. So my sister and I went to check it out.
The events began at 4:30, with the opening ceremony held at 6:00. We arrived around 5:00 and there was a long line queued up to get inside. Incidentally, it snowed earlier that day. Although it had change to rain by the evening, it was still freezing cold. I had a tough time taking pictures since it was so dark and my hands were shaking uncontrollably.
The lines wrapped around the building. At first, we were directed to the head of the line by some of the staff on the streets, which was a complete waste of time since we had to walk all the way to the back of line from the front. >.< There were a few interesting structures around the outside of the oval.
Most notably were these reddish net things. Accompanying them were some shallow ponds with bridges for people to walk across. I can only use ‘interesting’ to describe these nets since I really have no idea what they are suppose to be or if they signify anything. After all, I’m not a very artsy person and I don’t know how to appreciate such abstract structures.
Along the backside of the building were these wooden covers. In fact, the whole roof of the building is built primarily from pine beetle lumber. I wish the cover was one whole piece instead of these individual piece with gaps in between. It was terrible as a cover for rain. :P Not to mention, the man in line in front of us keep opening and closing his umbrella and moving it around in our faces. I was honestly quite annoyed and worried that he’s going to poke our eyes out.
There were still signs of constructions underway even though it was the opening day. There were areas outside that were fenced off. And then there was the random fence placed beside the line with the event schedule for the main stage.
Also along the lines were several booths. We didn’t go check them out since we were busying lining up. I feel sorry for the ones working the booths. It was quite cold and with the rain, hardly anyone was visiting them.
This was the final stretch of the line. At the very front, beyond the entrance, there was a big screen broadcasting the performance happening on the main stage.
There were also numerous ‘waterfalls’ located dispersively along the back. I’m not sure what they are. There’s a first nation pattern carved onto it. I wonder if it’s a water drain. It’s just the opening day and there’s already a bunch of greenish moss all over the craving. =/
After an approximately half an hour wait, we are finally entering the oval. As we enter, we were given the event pamphlet. I pulled off my hood, shook off some of the rain on my jacket and attempted to warm up from the indoor heat.
Right in front of us was the track. I originally thought it would be like an ice rink but I was wrong. It’s a track. The centre section is not covered with ice. In fact, there a stairway that leads to downstairs in the middle.
My sister and I weren’t exact sure what’s suppose to happen. So we found an empty spot beside the track and waited, hoping that we’ll be able to see whatever is going on later. Soon, I began to notice that it’s not all the warm inside either. It is a skating track after all.
This is the wood roof which is curved to resemble the neck of a blue heron, the symbol of the oval. I think there was an event earlier, before the oval was built, where they allow citizens to sign their names on the wood. We missed that event so our signatures ain’t up there.
To one end of the track was the main stage. There were very limited seating. Needless to say, we didn’t get in. At the time, the performers was the Aeriosa Dance Society. You can kind of see them hanging above the bright yellow glare.
It was nearing 6:00 and we began to see people coming on the track. First up is the Canadian speed skating team. Behind them are the three mascots of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Some cute figure skaters ensued, followed by a lot of little league hockey players.
Also scattered around were members of the Richmond Youth Honour Choir. A lot of them didn’t know how to skate. It was quite entertaining watching them. haha.
Soon, we noticed some fireworks sprang up from the main stage and we assumed that the oval is officially opened. I have to say that it’s a pretty poor arrangement. The main stage was so isolated. There were no broadcast of what’s going on there inside the rink.
Those screens up there is facing the main stage. Basically, unless you’re sitting in those limited number of seats, you don’t really know what’s going on there.
After the first round of skating, the ice is all scratched up.
Towards the back, on the second floor, was what seem to be VIP rooms. There was some sort of party hosted there. Of course, it was for the important guest attending this opening. Everyone was dressed up.
After the ceremony, a group of people dressed in uniforms come marching down the centre of the track and headed downstairs.
As the skater keep circle around the track, some performers had gather to one side and are practicing their moves. We didn’t stay long enough to see the performance. The events were really going according to the schedule anymore. I was getting hungry and didn’t want to wait for a performance that I don’t know when it’ll start.
To the side were several booths, mostly related to speed skating. At one booth, two speed skaters from the Canadian team were doing autographs. We got one but I still have no clue who the two are.
We decided to check out the upstairs. Just before the stairs was this speed skater statue.
The second floor is essentially a gym. There were a lot of exercising machine lined up. A look back down to the track, you’ll see that the centre section are courts meant for basketball, badminton etc.
There were several public skate sections schedule where anyone is allowed to go onto the track. You can bring your own skates or there were a limited amount of skates for rental. I haven’t skated for so long that I wasn’t in the mood to test this track out.
The rental shop was towards the upper right corner. There was a huge line of people trying to get skates as well as a million others putting them on in that general area.
The speed skater from another prospective. The Richmond Olympic Oval has a seating capacity of 8000. 12 medal events will be held here, where 36 medals will be awarded. I won’t be watching any of those. I didn’t request for the long track speed skating tickets and wasn’t allocated the short track ones. The Olympic events I’ll be attending include Men’s hockey, Ladies’ figure skating, Ladies’ bobsleigh, Men’s Aerials, Ladies’ Snowboard PGS.
This is the first floor where the main entrances are. The entrance we came from was like a back entrance. The main floor consist of the reception area and a bunch of locker rooms.
Found a hockey player haha!
This is the stairs to the middle of the track.
There are a number of plaques around the first floor, one of which is the autographs of the Nation Speed Skating Team. I forgot to look up the two I saw earlier.
