The City Council meeting on Monday, Feb. 8, will start later at 5:30 p.m., as City Council will be attending a celebration for local Olympic athletes.
The community celebration will honor seven local athletes headed to the Olympics and will be held at 5 p.m. in the Gondola Plaza at the base of Aspen Mountain.
The ceremony will kick off with an introduction of the athletes, video highlights of each of them, and a presentation of a special gift to each of the Olympians. There will be music, as well as free hot chocolate, hot cider and coffee.
City officials will read a proclamation officially declaring February 2010 as Aspen Olympians’ Month with individual days dedicated to each athlete.
“This is a great chance for the community to wish these athletes good luck and let them know that we will all be cheering for them,” said Aspen Mayor Mick Ireland. “This is an amazing group of competitors and we are all proud of their achievements.”
The seven Olympians are:
Jeremy Abbott, Aspen – U.S. Figure Skating Team
Gretchen Bleiler, Aspen– U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team
Simi Hamilton, Aspen – U.S. Cross Country Ski Team
Chris Klug, Aspen – U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team
Alice McKennis, Glenwood Springs - U.S. Alpine Olympic Team, Women’s Downhill
Casey Puckett, Aspen – U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team, Skicross
Jake Zamansky, Aspen – U.S. Alpine Olympic Team, Men’s Giant Slalom