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For 16 days in 1988, the was reserved for the world’s sporting elite — and, for the 39 years since, the University of Ģ����ý’s famous speedskating arena has been welcoming the entire community.

Make that 39 years and counting, because a $52-million investment is helping to breathe new life into the venerable campus facility, with a new tunnel, ice plant and refrigeration slab as part of a rehabilitation and modernization plan for the storied Oval.

“Today’s investments are of paramount importance to building a stronger Canada. We are working together with sporting organizations and the provincial government to invest in national training centres, including the Olympic Oval, that will provide both athletes and broader communities with world-class facilities,” said , Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada.

“Investments such as these promote healthy, active lifestyles foster our talent and position Canada as a top sporting destination.”

Robertson, along with federal Secretary of State for Sport , announced the federal Olympic Oval investment under the (BCSF) along with two other ‘88 legacy facilities — the halfpipe at WinSport and Nakiska National Ski Cross Training Centre — ensuring they will thrive for decades to come.

“The Olympic Oval on the University of Ģ����ý campus is a legendary facility, and, together with the Government of Alberta, we are ensuring the long-term operation of the fastest ice in the world, where Olympic medallists have trained, won and set countless world records,” said van Koeverden.

“Through this partnership, we are continuing to prove that Canada is the best sport-hosting nation in the world. We’re building Canada Strong, from playground to podium.”

Alberta Minister of Tourism and Sport announced the province would match the federal investment of $26 million in the Olympic Oval. 

“We are happy to see this project moving forward through joint efforts with the Government of Canada,” said Boitchenko. “This investment will preserve one of Canada's premier sport facilities, supporting high-performance athlete development while helping strengthen Canada's sport system and encouraging healthier lifestyles in communities for years to come.” 

The investment will reinforce Alberta’s role in athletic performance and research, added Alberta Minster of Advanced Education .

“The University of Ģ����ý’s Olympic Oval has helped generations of athletes pursue excellence while advancing research and innovation in sport,” said McDougall.

“This investment will preserve a world-class facility that supports students, athletes and the broader community, while reinforcing Alberta’s leadership in athletic performance, research and innovation.” 

In the case of the Olympic Oval, internationally recognized as The Fastest Ice in the World^tm after tallying more than 300 speedskating records, the upgrades will serve far more than the 150 Canadian Olympic hopefuls and 900 varsity athletes who train in Ģ����ý.

With more than a half million visitors annually (including 40,000 public skaters), UĢ����ý’s Oval is also host to a multitude of public events, including gymnastics, basketball, volleyball and judo tournaments, along with science fairs, trade shows, film production and Canada’s largest model train show.

"The University of Ģ����ý thanks the Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta for these critical and timely investments to ensure the Olympic Oval remains one of the nation’s premier athletic facilities and a vibrant community hub that bolsters Ģ����ý’s reputation as a world-class sporting city," said Dr. Ed McCauley, PhD, UĢ����ý president and vice-chancellor. 

"Complementing the Oval’s elite training and event-hosting capacity is decades of globally recognized research undertaken at the University of Ģ����ý, in human physiology, injury prevention and recovery, and equipment design. This funding from the federal and provincial governments supports more than renewed infrastructure. It supports athletic excellence, scientific innovation and community connection.”

Planned upgrades to the Oval are designed to enhance safety accessibility and long-term sustainability, including significantly reducing energy costs and emissions.

In return, the public facility will generate an economic impact of $350 million between 2026 and 2031 through tourism, community activities and local business support, while enhancing Ģ����ý's national and international reputation.

And, of course, a renewed Olympic Oval will continue its impressive four-decade mandate of helping to train and inspire many of Canada's top athletes. 

"We're known as Canada's medal factory, which is sort of an unofficial handle for our building, and that's what we want to be for a long time to come," said , director of the Olympic Oval and an expert in creating the fast ice that makes the building so celebrated.

"We want to keep turning out medalists from this building, and it's not just speedskaters — we have hockey players, bobsledders, lugers and biathletes. We want to be that medal factory that continues to train athletes for the Olympics on a national level."

This week's federal funding announcement follows UĢ����ý’s own investments in upkeep and maintenance over the past 39 years, including recent substantial investments in upgrades to refrigeration, washrooms, glazing and heat exchange, as well as design plans for the rehabilitation project.

The Oval’s history of enabling students, alumni and members of the broader community to “start something” is due in part to the iconic latticed roof built into the design. 

That domed roof, conceived way back in 1982 when no such covered speedskating track existed in the world, is the reason the Olympic Oval still stands on campus, serving athletes and the community alike.

That unique vision, for an enclosed, weatherproof building that would continue to serve the community long after the 1988 Winter Olympics were over, has kept the Oval making history, rather than just being a chapter in the history books.