The City of South Lake Tahoe is lending its support to welcome home and congratulate local athletes Jamie Anderson, Maddie Bowman, and Hannah Teter after their impressive placings at the 2014 Winter Olympic games in Sochi, Russia. Jamie Anderson took gold in snowboarding slopestyle, Maddie Bowman took gold in freeskiing halfpipe, and Hannah Teter placed fourth in snowboarding halfpipe.
A celebration is scheduled for March 15 beginning at 1:00pm with a vehicle procession from South Lake Tahoe High School. A fire truck will transport the athletes from the school, onto Highway 50, past the South Lake Tahoe airport, through the town of Meyers, and conclude at Sierra Resort. Community members can line Highway 50 along the route and cheer the Olympian procession as it drives by. Anyone wanting to join the vehicle procession is encourage to arrive at South Lake Tahoe by noon. Carpooling is encouraged.
The South Tahoe High School marching band will greet the Olympians at Sierra-at-Tahoe’s new Solstice Plaza at 1:40 p.m. The National Anthem by the South Tahoe High School Choir will be followed by an introduction from Sierra-at-Tahoe’s General Manager John Rice.
Attending the festivities will be California State Senator Ted Gaines, El Dorado County supervisors and South Lake Tahoe City Councilmembers with proclamations for the three Olympians. The party will include autograph signings, live music, food and drink specials, prizes and a raffle with proceeds to the Sierra Foundation, which grooms future world class athletes.
Local businesses and homeowners are encouraged to show their support by decorating building exteriors with congratulatory and welcome home signs and banners. All City-mandated temporary sign permit requirements and fees have been suspended for congratulatory banners and signs until March 16.
Businesses are also encouraged to offer "Gold in the Sierra"/"Welcome Home Olympians"-themed lodging and dining deals, specials and packages as part of the celebration.
Well-wishers and partygoers are encouraged to board buses or carpool to the resort as parking is very limited, and Sierra-at-Tahoe resort is open for all normally-scheduled ski operations and hours. The athletes will depart from South Tahoe High School at 1 p.m. Bus schedules, times as well as all event details will be available at www.sierraattahoe.com.