Calgary to welcome torch at Olympic Plaza

Downtown Calgary's Olympic Plaza will host musicians, dancers, and Olympic athletes when the torch arrives in the city later this month.

The free, family event will run Jan. 18 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Scheduled to perform are singers Terri Clark and Crystal Plamondon. Among the Olympic athletes attending will be three-time medallist speed skater Susan Auch and gold medal skeleton racer Duff Gibson.

"Come on down to Olympic Plaza, see those historical and magical moments with some truly outstanding Canadians. Olympic history will be re-lived here in Calgary," said Mayor Dave Bronconnier on Wednesday.

The cross-Canada torch relay will enter Alberta from Saskatchewan via Lloydminster, then head as far south as Lethbridge before reaching Calgary on the 81st day of the event.

It's the first time the torch has been in Calgary since the city hosted the Winter Olympics in 1988.

On Jan. 18, just after 4 p.m., the torch will travel north on Macleod Trail then loop around downtown via 17th Avenue S.W., 14 Street S.W., and Ninth Avenue S.W. before arriving at the plaza at 7 p.m.

The next day the torch will travel from downtown through parts of northwest Calgary. Auch will skate with the torch in the Olympic Oval at 9 a.m., then the relay will head to northeast and southeast Calgary before touring some of the communities outside the city. Detailed maps of the route are available on the Vancouver 2010 website.

The torch relay is a "great way to connect Canadians," Auch said. "I imagine it's a pretty moving experience."

Motorists can expect some street closures and detours on both days. On Jan. 20, the Olympic flame will head to British Columbia via Banff, making a stop at Canada Olympic Park.

The Olympic Plaza will also host a High Performance Rodeo event on Jan. 16 called Snowblower, which includes international electronic musicians, fire performances, and light displays. That free event runs from 5 p.m. until 11 p.m.