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RICH MOND T he city of Richmond, which hosted the speed skating competitions at the Olympic Winter Games Vancouver 2010, embraced the unique opportunity to create a purpose-built facility, the Richmond Olympic Oval. From the very outset, the plan was to capitalise on the potential offered by this site, and after the Games to transform it into a multisport and leisure centre for the local population and an international centre of excellence for high performance sport competition and training. Although the Oval was the physical centrepiece, the strategy to ensure the site continued to flourish after the Games extended beyond the construction of state-of-the-art facilities. Indeed, the goal was to create a space for training and educational activities, but also to strengthen the spirit of volunteerism. In 2015, the Olympic Experience at the Richmond Olympic Oval – an Olympic Museum – was born, and today, thanks to a plethora of interactive activities, it offers visitors a genuine sporting and Olympic experience. ILLUSTRATED BY CELINA LUCEY OLYMPIC LEGACY FOSTERS A HEALTHY ACTIVE COMMUNITY IN OUR REGULAR LOOK AT THE GLOBAL ACTIVE CITY PROGRAMME, WE SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON THE CANADIAN CITY OF RICHMOND. A VENUE CITY FOR THE OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES VANCOUVER 2010, IT SEIZED THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE LEGACY AND PROMOTE HEALTHY AND ACTIVE LIFESTYLES 62 OLYMPIC REVIEW ACTIVE CITIES