SARANAC LAKE, N.Y. --- The Saranac Lake Women’s Civic Chamber, Olympic Regional Development Authority, the town of Harrietstown and the Village of Saranac Lake are throwing a parade, Wednesday, March 21, at 5:30 p.m. to welcome back the area’s Olympians who competed in the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea. Everyone is invited to join the celebration and cheer on Saranac Lake’s own 2018 men’s singles Olympic luge silver medalist, Chris Mazdzer, and several of his Olympic teammates as they march through the historic downtown.

The parade begins at the Hotel Saranac and makes its way down Main St. to the Harrietstown Town Hall. Once at the town hall, the athletes will participate in a cauldron lighting ceremony and Mazdzer and Saranac Lake’s Andrea Kilbourne, a 2002 women’s hockey Olympic silver medalist, will both be inducted into the Saranac Lake Walk of Fame by Mayor Clyde Rabideau. The festivities then move indoors for a team recognition celebration and the athletes will be available for photos and autographs. To date, eight Olympians have confirmed their participation. They include:

Alpine Skiing:

Tommy Biesemeyer (Keene, N.Y.), a 2018 Olympian and 2010 NorAM Cup overall champion

Andrew Weibrecht (Lake Placid, N.Y.), a three-time Olympian and two-time Olympic medalist in men’s Super-G

Biathlon:

Lowell Bailey (Lake Placid, N.Y.), a four-time Olympian and 2017 World champion

Tim Burke (Lake Placid, N.Y.), a four-time Olympian and 2013 World Championship silver medalist

Clare Egan (Cape Elizabeth, Maine), 2018 Olympian and member of the U.S. World Cup biathlon team since 2015

Bobsled:

Nick Cunningham (Monterey, Calif.), a three-time Olympian (2010, 2014, 2018) and 2017-’18 World Cup silver medalist

Jamie Greubel-Poser (Lake Placid, N.Y.), a two-time Olympian (2014, 2018) and 2014 women’s bobsled Olympic bronze medalist

Luge:

Chris Mazdzer (Saranac Lake, N.Y.), a three-time Olympian & 2018 men’s singles luge Olympic silver medalist

Olympic athletes, past and present, and their families from our entire region have been invited. The athletes will be riding in the parade on the Royalty Float from Winter Carnival, which has been re-fitted with Olympic rings.  Local youth groups including downhill and cross-country ski groups, figure skating, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the Saranac Lake Marching Band and Ensembles have been invited to participate in the celebration.

Media Advisory: 2018 Olympic athletes and support staff will be available for interviews from 4:45-5:15 p.m. in the Hotel Saranac. Media may follow the parade to film B-roll and photography. Athletes will be available for further interviews following the event.

Contact Jon Lundin, ORDA communications, if you are planning on covering the parade. Please also make Lundin aware of any special needs, cell phone: 518-637-6885, email: JLundin@orda.org.

-- ORDA --

Established in 1982, the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) was created by the State of New York to manage the facilities used during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid. ORDA operates Whiteface, Belleayre and Gore Mountain ski areas; the Olympic Sports Complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg; the Olympic speed skating oval, Olympic jumping complex and Olympic arena. As host to international and national championships, the Authority has brought millions of athletes, spectator and participants to the region, resulting in significant economic development.