Alberta to host Canada's 2014 Olympic celebrations
After Sochi Winter Games, Olympians will march in Calgary parade
Alberta will play host to Canada’s celebrations after the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia.
The announcement by the Canadian Olympic Committee was made just after 11 a.m. MT Wednesday.
The COC said the Celebration of Excellence will include a parade in Calgary, as well as visits to schools, hospitals and community centres across more than 200 communities in Alberta.
Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said having Calgary be the host city was a "no-brainer."
"The pieces just fit together. This is the centre of Canada's winter sport," he said.
Olympic gold medallist Mark Tewksbury, who acted as Canada's chef de mission in 2012, was also at the announcement.
"It's really important for the team to be able to come back, bring that experience back to communities — which will happen in spades for Calgary, Banff, Canmore and Edmonton — and also then to kind of reconnect each other to that experience," said Tewksbury.
Banff will host a sendoff Jan. 11 for athletes going to Russia.
The COC also announced that, before coming to Alberta, the Olympians will head to Parliament Hill in Ottawa.