Kamloops to welcome home Olympics competitors and officials on April 5

SPORTS — Kamloops will officially welcome home its Olympic competitors and officials after their journey to Sochi for the 2014 Winter Games.

On Saturday, April 5, the City of Kamloops, Kamloops Long Blades and PacificSport will host a celebration to welcome home the athletes and officials.

Speed skating silver medalist Jessica Hewitt, slalom and alpine skier Elli Terwiel, Dianne Barker, international technical official for curling; and Jan Antons, equipment manager for the bronze-medaling 2014 Men’s Olympic sledge hockey team will be at McArthur Island Olympic Ice Sheet from 12 to 2 p.m.

Between 12 and 1 p.m. there will be a Celebration Skate with Kamloops dignitaries, local media, Jessica, Elli and Digger, followed by formalities, including hearing from Jessica and Elli on their Olympic experience.

Cupcakes and autograph opportunities, as well as the chance to see Jessica’s silver medal, will conclude the first hour.

Afterwards from 1 to 2 p.m., the public is invited to strap on a pair of skates and try out speed skating. Bring your own skates, or the Long Blades will have a limited number of skates available to try.