Oakland is celebrating its hometown hero.
Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu will be honored March 12 with a rally at Frank Ogawa Plaza, the city announced Thursday. The celebration is free and open to all, but registration (opens in new tab) is required to get into the plaza for what is sure to be a packed event celebrating the world’s top figure skater.
A city spokesperson said the plaza’s capacity is 10,000.
“Alysa Liu is Oakland — her drive, her brilliance, her joy,” Mayor Barbara Lee said. “Watching her claim gold for our city and our country filled every Oaklander with pride, and we are overjoyed to welcome her home.”
The rally kicks off at noon, though the “doors” will open at 9 a.m. The event will feature an address by Liu herself, according to organizers.
Liu’s performance at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics won the first U.S. gold medal in women’s singles figure skating in 24 years. She also took home gold in the team event.
According to Visit Oakland, which is hosting the event with the city, Liu opted not to have a parade and instead asked for “a celebration that shines a light on Oakland’s vibrant community and talented local artists.”
“We are thrilled to celebrate Alysa Liu’s incredible accomplishments and proud that she is showing her love for Oakland on a global stage,” Visit Oakland President and CEO Peter Gamez said. “We can’t wait to welcome visitors to experience the magic of Oakland and join the festivities honoring Alysa’s Olympic gold!”