The Richmond Olympic Oval will now be a home for short track speed skating in British Columbia.
The oval and Speed Skating Canada (SSC) have agreed to create a Short Track Legacy Program, (STLP) intended to provide a complete pathway for Canadian speed skaters, from first exposure to the sport through high performance training and elite competition.
"Speed skating will always have a special place in Richmond as we all have thrilling memories of Canada's Gold Medal victories at the oval _," said Mayor Malcolm Brodie.
"... it's exciting to know that speed skating will now have a permanent, ongoing program in the oval, which should provide many new milestones in the years to come."
The oval is a "leader in Canadian sport," said Ian Moss, CEO of Speed Skating Canada.
"We look forward to providing new opportunities for strong skaters to enter speed skating as well as offering enhanced services for the speed skating community."
At the head of the program will be David Morrison, a level five nationally-ranked coach who joins the oval after spending nearly two decades as head coach of the Gloucester Concordes Speed Skating Club in Ontario. Morrison has trained members of the 2011 Canada Winter Games team and Junior World Short Track Championship teams from 1994 to 2010.
The STLP will focus on skater development programs, including first contact and recruitment, talent identification, camps, clubs and regular training, plus the development of a Regional Training Centre for high potential athletes age 16 and up.
Also, it's expected the oval will host national and provincial training camps, coach and athlete workshops and a variety of local, provincial, national and international events.
