Marystown celebrating Kaetlyn Osmond's Olympic arrival
The town of Marystown is celebrating skater Kaetlyn Osmond's arrival in Russia for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.
Osmond, 18, who is originally from the Burin Peninsula town, will be competing as part of the Canadian ladies' figure skating team.
Mayor Sam Synard said community members have been busy decorating the town hall and will soon place a large banner at the entrance of Marystown to show their support for Osmond.
Synard said Osmond is an inspiration to many people in the community and has boosted involvement in the town's figure skating scene.
"Kaetlyn is followed the same way young minor hockey players might follow Sidney Crosby," he said.
"Just yesterday watching some national interviews that Kaetlyn was doing, and she keeps referring to herself as from…Marystown, Newfoundland and Labrador, so that goes a long way in motivating us to be so much behind her."
According to Synard, the town has been boosting fundraising efforts to help Osmond and her family with skating costs.
"Even high-quality athletes like Kaetlyn, they still need a lot of family financial support to compete on a world stage, so we're trying to do some small bit of fundraising for Kaetlyn," he said.
Synard said at the Marystown council meeting Tuesday night, members will be dressed in red and will cut a community cake to honour Osmond.