For Olympic sports that require an ice surface, the Vancouver Olympics will primarily be making use of four arenas - two of which will be newly-built, and two of which are familiar old venues.
Currently under construction, the Richmond Oval (pictured below) will be the main venue for speed skating. The new facility will include a 400 metre track and seating for about 7,600 spectators, according to this press release.
Figure skating, and its less graceful cousin, short track speed skating, will be held at the Pacific Coliseum. The replacement of 16,000 old seats at the Coliseum began in 2005, while other major capital upgrades such as improvements to concession and washroom facilities will occur over the next two years.
Hockey games will be held at GM Place (which will need to be modified in order to accomodate an international size ice rink) and the rebuilt UBC Winter Sports Complex (pictured below), which will also serve as a practice venue. Construction on the new T-Bird centre will begin this April, and be completed in two years' time.
For an overview of Olympic venues that will be built in Vancouver, visit the City of Vancouver's website here.
