Moncton to host Olympic Hall of Fame induction

Moncton is preparing to welcome some of Canada's Olympic heroes this April.

The city will host the 2011 Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Canadian Olympic Committee CEO Chris Overholt said one of the reasons Moncton was chosen was the Olympic spirit the community exhibited during the run-up to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Overholt said Moncton was one of the first places the committee considered.

'This is delicious icing on a perfect cake, that's what this night will be for me.' David MacEachern, 1998 Olympic Gold Medallist

"Partly because of the very warm reception that all of our athletes on the Olympic team received as part of the tour, the torch relay leading up to the games," said Overholt.

The city is planning on reviving that Olympic spirit, but details on the events surrounding the Hall of Fame ceremony have yet to be announced.

One of the athletes looking forward to being inducted is Olympic bobsledder David MacEachern of Prince Edward Island.

"This is delicious icing on a perfect cake, that's what this night will be for me," said MacEachern, who captured the first ever gold medal for Canada in the two-man bobsleigh event in the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

Other inductees include figure skater Elvis Stojko, swimmer Curtis Myden, women's hockey coach Melody Davidson, and former COC board member and leader in the sport of cycling Marc Lemay.

Over 1,000 people are expected to attend the April 16 gala dinner and ceremony at Casino New Brunswick.