The Whakatāne District is gearing up to celebrate its local Olympic heroes with a special parade in honour of Dame Lisa Carrington, Hayden Wilde, and Stacey Waaka.
Mayor Dr Victor Luca expressed his pride in the athletes' achievements.
"We are immensely proud of the remarkable accomplishments our local Olympians have achieved on the world stage.
"This parade is our way of celebrating their hard work, dedication, and the inspiration they bring to our community. It's a special day for the Whakatāne District, and I encourage everyone to come out and show their support for these incredible athletes."
The parade will take place at Rex Morpeth Park on Tuesday, 26 November, and promises to be a vibrant celebration of our athletes' achievements on the world stage.
Following the parade, there will be a pōwhiri and formal welcome from Ngāti Awa, with stage performances and acknowledgements of the athletes.
The event will begin with the medallists being driven around a pre-marked route in open-top vehicles, allowing the community to cheer them on from viewing spots around the park.
Dame Lisa, Stacey and Hayden will be present for the event, though unfortunately, Eastern Bay’s fourth Olympian, Mahina Paul, will be unable to attend as she is competing in the Rugby 7s in Dubai.
Schools, clubs, and families are encouraged to come along, and everyone is invited to get creative with flags and banners to wave in celebration.
While the athletes will not have time to sign autographs or pose for individual photos, pre-signed postcards will be available as mementos for attendees.
Those wishing to join the festivities should arrive from noon with lunch or a picnic, as the parade will officially begin at 1pm with the event concluding around 2pm.
There will be a designated bus drop-off zone. For on-street parking, please use Commerce Street, Russell Street, and McAlister Street. Remember not to park on berms or driveways.
This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of our local Olympians and show our appreciation for their hard work and dedication. Come along and be part of this memorable afternoon.
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