PRESQUE ISLE — Presque Isle’s Downtown Revitalization Committee will host an arrival ceremony for biathletes participating in the 2016 BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon, and the public is invited to help welcome them.
The city will soon be the center of much international sports attention as it hosts the biathlon. Athletes, coaches, support staff, fans and international press will descend on the area in just a few short days. This means an influx of dollars for hotels, restaurants and other businesses. In addition, Super-Bowl-sized international viewership will be focused on the area.
Approximately 275 biathletes will arrive on Monday, Feb. 8. The main group will arrive by chartered aircraft at the Northern Maine Regional Airport terminal at 5 p.m., with a second large charter plane arriving at 7:10 p.m. More biathletes will then arrive on the 7:45 p.m. PenAir flight.
The public is invited to help the city welcome the athletes to the community by joining downtown committee members in a designated spot in the baggage claim area. The Presque Isle High School Band will be on hand to provide live music as the athletes arrive at 5 p.m. Welcome packets assembled by the committee will be given to the biathletes.
As the athletes will no doubt be weary after their long flight, the public is asked to stay in the designated area until the athletes have cleared the terminal. Although the band will only be performing for the first arrival, the public is invited to be present for all three.
For more information on the ceremony, contact Kim Smith at ksmith@presqueisleme.us.
