Updated: Fri Nov. 28 2008 15:48:19

ctvbc.ca

December 12 & 13

The Richmond Olympic Oval, home of speed skating for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, will officially open on Friday, December 12 and Saturday, December 13. An innovative and memorable community celebration will mark the opening and will showcase the Oval's unique design and include opportunities for members of the public to skate on the 400-metre track. The opening night festival will be held Friday December 12 from 4:30 to 10 p.m. and will feature official opening ceremonies, special entertainment, building tours, and the first public skate on the Oval track. The festivities will continue from noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 13 with a community open house featuring public skating, entertainment, building tours and more.

Opening night festivities will include the breathtaking aerial dance of the Aeriosa Dance as they perform their mid-air ballet suspended from the Oval's spectacular wood roof. At ice level, Quebec's Le Patin Libre will entertain with their alternative take on an ice show, which combines figure skating, acrobatics, barrel jumping and fire breathing with hip hop and other dance and skating elements. Local skating groups will join in the performance which also features audience interaction. The acclaimed 15th Field Artillery Regiment Band, popularly known as Vancouver's "Army Band" will also perform. The evening's entertainment will kick off with a performance featuring the Richmond Honour Choir and the Steveston Taiko Drummers, joined by drummers and dancers from Richmond's Hugh Boyd and McNeill Secondary Schools. Attendees will also have an opportunity to take tours of the new Oval - with a twist. Actors will guide groups of people throughout the various areas of the Oval, using comedy and participatory activities to excite and engage participants, while highlighting the special features of the facility. All events will be free.

CTV will be on location for the opening celebrations on December 12th and 13th. Watch for CTV News and also the CTV promotions tent where you can try your hand at being an anchor.

Watch the City's website at www.richmond.ca for more details on the opening.