If you want to blame yesterday’s snowfall on someone, blame it on the Olympic flame torch relay organizers.

They celebrated the fact that there are just three months to go until Prince George welcomes the Olympic flame to town as part of the Olympic torch relay. And, the city’s torch celebrations task force co-chairs, Coun. Shari Green and Coun. Dave Wilbur, even braved the driving snow to kick off the celebrations and countdown until the torch goes through the city en route to Vancouver.

“The Olympic torch relay provides a once in a lifetime opportunity for everyone in Prince George to celebrate the Olympic spirit, right here in our own community,” said Green. “It will be a great two-hour celebration … regardless of the weather.”

The task force has been working over the past few months to plan a community-wide celebration that promises to be a showcase of Prince George and its people.

The event is scheduled from 6-8 p.m. on January 29 in the parking lot at Exhibition Park. Wilbur says the celebration will have something for everyone.

“There will be dancers, singers, fireworks and special presentations. Of course, the highlight will be cheering on our local torchbearer as they bring the Olympic Flame onto the stage,” he said. “It’s a family event, so we expect a lot of people here.”

Task force members are hoping to see as many people as possible at the community celebration, and are planning family events before and after the torch ceremony. All events are open to the public and will be free of charge.

“We know January 29, 2010 will be an historic day for Prince George, so we want people to mark their calendars and plan to celebrate the Olympic Torch Relay with us,” said Green.

“Our famous Prince George winter city spirit and capacity for fun will make this family celebration an extra special, not to be missed event,” adds Wilbur.

The ice oval will be open that day as well.

“For a lot of people, this is the closest experience they have to the Olympics,” said Green.

The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay begins today in Victoria. The Olympic Flame will travel by land, air and water during its 106-day journey as 12,000 torchbearers will be carrying the torch in more than 1,000 communities across Canada. The relay ends on February 12, 2010 when it lights the Olympic Cauldron, signaling the start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The Olympic Flame that lights the torch was lit in a special ceremony last week in Olympia, Greece.