This Wednesday, the Village of Lake Placid and more than 300 athletes from 38 nations around the world have something to celebrate.
Officials, athletes, coaches, and many others will be joyfully kicking off the beginning of the International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation’s (IBSF) World Championships in Lake Placid. The Opening Ceremonies, held inside the Olympic Center’s 1980 Herb Brooks Arena on March 5 at 7:00 pm, will celebrate the sliding sports, the season, athlete excellence, the Olympic spirit, and the international unity that will be on display at this two-week global competition.
Though the venue for the ceremony will differ from that of the competition, the surface on which it will happen will be very similar. Taking to the ice early in the ceremony will be former Olympic luge athlete and current NYS Olympic Regional Development Authority President & CEO Ashley Walden. IBSF President Ivo Ferriani will also speak.
In addition to a never-before-seen video presentation on the history of the Mt Van Hoevenberg sliding tracks, the ceremony will also include flags of all the nations competing, introductions of the athletes competing in each of the competition’s different events, and an official torch lighting.
Everyone is invited to witness this special Opening Ceremony. It is free and open to the public. The competition and the many interesting happenings scheduled between races all begin the following morning at Mt Van Hoevenberg.