The CAD$68.7 million (£40.5 million/$52.5 million/€47.5 million) facility, known as the Centre de Glace, is scheduled to open during 2019 or 2020 and will include a 400 metre indoor rink which will meet international standards for long track speed skating.

Two additional rinks will be built for various other ice sports, with training facilities and office space also a part of the project.

It will be built on the grounds of the current Gaétan Boucher Oval in the city and be open to the public all-year round.

“This is a major announcement for the sport of speed skating given the importance of Québec to our overall sport development and, of course, because of the long history of support that our sport has enjoyed in Québec City,” said Speed Skating Canada President, Susan Auch. 

“The design provides for multi-use opportunities and it will be a major facility for national and international speed skating competition hosting. 

"It will become an iconic symbol for the city and will contribute to Quebec City’s image as a world class winter city."

The facility was given the green light after formal backing from the Government of Canada, the Government of Québec and the City of Québec.

Speed skaters in Canada can already use the Calgary Olympic Oval, built for the 1988 Winter Olympics, and an indoor oval in Fort St John, British Colombia.

Québec City had been tipped to bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics but mayor Régis Labeaume ended any interest in May, saying they would struggle to beat the planned bid from Switzerland.