Local dignitaries gathered at city hall Friday for a flag raising ceremony to start of the four-year countdown to the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George.
In the lead up the city is preparing to host 3,700 athletes competing in 20 sports over 17 days - half of them converging on the city over each of the two weeks.
The proposed capital budget for the 2015 Canada Winter Games is $19.6 million with $16.5 million of the total slated for upgrades to the Kin 1 and 2 arenas.
The economic benefit has been pegged at $70 million to $90 million.
Including athletes, coaches and officials, as well as fans, the city should see an influx of 120,000 visits over the course of the games, or about 7,000 people each day.
Friday was also the opening day of the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax.
