THE OLYMPIC PROGRAMMATIC REQUIREMENTS FOR ICE HOCKEY

The IOC establishes some guidelines and requirements when building new sports venues. Some principles are recommended for Olympic sports venues, according to the Technical Manual on Venues - Design Standards for Competition Venues (2005). Among them, the most important guide the organization of:

• Venue areas (Figure 71)

• Front of house operations (Figure 73)

• Back of house operations (Figure 72)

• Seating and Standing Areas (Table 3)

• Venue interior (Figure 74)

• Safety of the venue (Table 1)

Principles

Evacuation /Escape System

• Venue designs that change the layout may, in some circumstances, increase the safety requirements and the need for additional public assembly areas.

• In the case of an emergency, a rapid evacuation and dispersal of spectators may be necessary; therefore both permanent and temporary venue designs should have organized evacuation routes that have been integrated into the venue design.

• Plans for the existing facility should be considered along with the Olympic overlay that will be installed (e.g. tents, stands, trailers, fences).

• Evacuation plans for FOH (spectator areas) should be independent of the evacuation route used for BOH (Athletes, Olympic Family).

• Provisions should be developed for persons with accessibility needs (e.g. wheelchairs).

Emergency Vehicle

Access and Parking

• Vehicular access for the ambulance and emergency vehicles should be planned with pedestrian flows and efficiency in mind.

• Parking should be close to spectator areas and FOP with designated routes out of the venue.

• Helicopter landing pad and/or area may be necessary for certain venues.

Audio capability

Lighting

Fire Safety

• A public address system should be in place and available to communicate messages to all constituent groups if an emergency arises.

• A suitable level of lighting for required spaces and corridors or pathways.

• Sufficient backup emergency lighting for spaces/corridors/ pathways.

• An automatic alarm system should be installed in the facility.

• Fire extinguishing systems (portable and fixed) should be installed and distributed throughout the venue.

• Appropriate signage identifying safety equipment should be posted throughout the facility.

Lightning Strikes

• Design measures should take into consideration the risk of a potential direct or indirect lightning strike and proper precautionary steps should be incorporated into the venue and overlay.

Besides these general principles, the IOC Technical Manual sets some space standards necessary in Ice Hockey venues for the spectators, players, committees, and workers. Table 3 summarizes these spaces. It is important to notice that the design for Santa Giulia took into account these references, but also included new programmatic features, anticipating futures uses after the Olympics.

Seating and standing areas Principles

Minimum width

Minimum depth

• 46 centimetres (18 inches).

• USA - 61 centimetres (24 inches); not generally recommended.

• Europe - 80 centimetres (31.5 inches); recommended minimum.

Note: Temporary seating systems are usually 75 centimetres (29.5 inches) in depth and are generally accepted for use by local agencies.

Table 3. Ice Hockey Seating and standing areas principles. Source: IOC Technical Manual on Design Standards for Competition venues, 2005 venues design standards spaces and requirements. Source: IOC Technical Manual on Design Standards for Competition venues, 2005

Table 2.