Olympic Day to be held in Lake Placid
Event geared to show support for Chicago 2016 Olympic bid
LAKE PLACID — The Lake Placid Olympic Training Center (OTC) and the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) are teaming up to present Olympic Day from 1 to 3 p.m., Saturday, June 20 at the Olympic Jumping Complex. This free event is geared for the entire family and the first 1,000 people to enter the venue will receive a commemorative 2016 Chicago Olympic Bid bracelet that also provides free entry to the 1932 and 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Museum from 3 to 5 p.m. as well as free admission to the Citizens Bank Saturday Night Ice Show at 7:30 p.m. at the Olympic Center.
Olympic Day is a worldwide commemoration of Baron Pierre de Coubertin’s June 23, 1894 convening of the first International Olympic Committee meeting at the Sorbonne in Paris, and the founding of the modern Olympic Games. National Olympic Committees throughout the world will also participate in the international celebration, with each Olympic Committee sending Olympic Day greetings to participating nations and to further the Olympic spirit and movement.
The event is not only an international celebration of the birthday of the modern Olympic Games, but it is also meant to show support for Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympic Summer Games.
“We have a Chicago flag and will be taking pictures with Lake Placid in the background,” said OTC Director Jack Favro. “Lake Placid has such a deep history in the Olympic rank, it’s very important to show support.”
Favro said Saturday is also an opportunity to support Lake Placid athletes who will be competing in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics in less than one year.
“There are a lot of athletes training here in Lake Placid that are medal contenders,” he said. “Hopefully, it will give the athletes a boost.”
The activities begin promptly at 1 p.m. with wheeled luge, hockey shot, biathlon, volleyball, and more available for people to try. Freestyle athletes will be launching off the kickers in hopes of perfecting their twists, turns and flips before splashing down in the 750,000-gallon pool. Nordic athletes take to the ski jumps to see who can fly off the 90-meter jump and land the longest jump of the day. Visitors may take a chairlift and elevator ride to the Sky Deck high atop the 120-meter ski jump tower, listen to live music by 2006 Olympic biathlete Lowell Bailey and get autographs from U.S. athletes.
Athletes expected to be on hand include 2009 FIL World Luge Champion Erin Hamlin, three-time Olympians and 2009 FIL World Championship doubles bronze medalists Mark Grimmette and Brian Martin, 2009 FIS Freestyle Aerial World Champion and Olympian Ryan St. Onge, Olympic biathlete Tim Burke and others, such as Olympic hopefuls John Napier (bobsled) and Haley Johnson (biathlon).
Guests will also get a chance to win raffle prizes, including tickets for the Lake Placid Bobsled Experience, VIP dinner at the I Love BBQ Festival, Olympic clothing and much more from famed Whiteface Prize Cube.
The official ceremony is at 1:30 p.m. Village of Lake Placid mayor Craig Randall will read a proclamation supporting Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympic Summer Games, followed by a presentation of a ceremonial Chicago flag to Lake Placid.
“Lake Placid has a tradition of supplying Olympic athletes,” Randall said. “It’s something Lake Placid has in its bloodstream. It’s born in us.”
Not only does Lake Placid have the tradition of hosting two Olympic Winter Games, athletes training here today continue to put the town in the international spotlight.
“The number of athletes that reach the Olympics from Lake Placid, we stand head and shoulders above many communities. It’s something we will always support.”
Olympic athletes from the area, as well as those currently in town training at the OTC, will also be recognized.
The U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation, the U.S. Luge Association, NYSEF Ski Jumping, Lake Placid Figure Skating, Lake Placid Speed Skating, U.S. Biathlon and the Lake Placid Horse Show Association are among the groups that are participating in Olympic Day.
Centerplate, ORDA’s concessionaire, will have barbequed food available for purchase throughout the event, including pulled pork sandwiches, hamburgers and hot dogs.
For more information on ORDA venues and events and for Web cams from five locations, visit www.whitefacelakeplacid.com.
—Heather Sackett
POSTED: June 18, 2009
LAKE PLACID — The Lake Placid Olympic Training Center (OTC) and the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) are teaming up to present Olympic Day from 1 to 3 p.m., Saturday, June 20 at the Olympic Jumping Complex. This free event is geared for the entire family and the first 1,000 people to enter the venue will receive a commemorative 2016 Chicago Olympic Bid bracelet that also provides free entry to the 1932 and 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Museum from 3 to 5 p.m. as well as free admission to the Citizens Bank Saturday Night Ice Show at 7:30 p.m. at the Olympic Center.
Olympic Day is a worldwide commemoration of Baron Pierre de Coubertin’s June 23, 1894 convening of the first International Olympic Committee meeting at the Sorbonne in Paris, and the founding of the modern Olympic Games. National Olympic Committees throughout the world will also participate in the international celebration, with each Olympic Committee sending Olympic Day greetings to participating nations and to further the Olympic spirit and movement.
The event is not only an international celebration of the birthday of the modern Olympic Games, but it is also meant to show support for Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympic Summer Games.
“We have a Chicago flag and will be taking pictures with Lake Placid in the background,” said OTC Director Jack Favro. “Lake Placid has such a deep history in the Olympic rank, it’s very important to show support.”
Favro said Saturday is also an opportunity to support Lake Placid athletes who will be competing in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics in less than one year.
“There are a lot of athletes training here in Lake Placid that are medal contenders,” he said. “Hopefully, it will give the athletes a boost.”
The activities begin promptly at 1 p.m. with wheeled luge, hockey shot, biathlon, volleyball, and more available for people to try. Freestyle athletes will be launching off the kickers in hopes of perfecting their twists, turns and flips before splashing down in the 750,000-gallon pool. Nordic athletes take to the ski jumps to see who can fly off the 90-meter jump and land the longest jump of the day. Visitors may take a chairlift and elevator ride to the Sky Deck high atop the 120-meter ski jump tower, listen to live music by 2006 Olympic biathlete Lowell Bailey and get autographs from U.S. athletes.
Athletes expected to be on hand include 2009 FIL World Luge Champion Erin Hamlin, three-time Olympians and 2009 FIL World Championship doubles bronze medalists Mark Grimmette and Brian Martin, 2009 FIS Freestyle Aerial World Champion and Olympian Ryan St. Onge, Olympic biathlete Tim Burke and others, such as Olympic hopefuls John Napier (bobsled) and Haley Johnson (biathlon).
Guests will also get a chance to win raffle prizes, including tickets for the Lake Placid Bobsled Experience, VIP dinner at the I Love BBQ Festival, Olympic clothing and much more from famed Whiteface Prize Cube.
The official ceremony is at 1:30 p.m. Village of Lake Placid mayor Craig Randall will read a proclamation supporting Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympic Summer Games, followed by a presentation of a ceremonial Chicago flag to Lake Placid.
“Lake Placid has a tradition of supplying Olympic athletes,” Randall said. “It’s something Lake Placid has in its bloodstream. It’s born in us.”
Not only does Lake Placid have the tradition of hosting two Olympic Winter Games, athletes training here today continue to put the town in the international spotlight.
“The number of athletes that reach the Olympics from Lake Placid, we stand head and shoulders above many communities. It’s something we will always support.”
Olympic athletes from the area, as well as those currently in town training at the OTC, will also be recognized.
The U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation, the U.S. Luge Association, NYSEF Ski Jumping, Lake Placid Figure Skating, Lake Placid Speed Skating, U.S. Biathlon and the Lake Placid Horse Show Association are among the groups that are participating in Olympic Day.
Centerplate, ORDA’s concessionaire, will have barbequed food available for purchase throughout the event, including pulled pork sandwiches, hamburgers and hot dogs.
For more information on ORDA venues and events and for Web cams from five locations, visit www.whitefacelakeplacid.com.
—Heather Sackett
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