To help you get into the Olympic spirit, the free Olympic Downtown Celebration will be taking over downtown Colorado Springs from 4-10 p.m. this Friday (7/27/12). Watch acrobats and a BMX stunt team, check out the synthetic ice rink and see husband and wife Olympians Bret Hedican (hockey) and Kristi Yamaguchi (figure skating) light a commemorative torch.

KOAA-TV (Comcast channel 5/705) is helping sponsor the Olympic Downtown Celebration and will have a significant presence at the event. The station will be broadcasting the opening ceremony on a 15 by 27 foot high HD screen, Sports Director Eric Naktin will be reporting live from the street and KOAA will be airing its 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. newscasts live on location, pairing up anchors Rob Quirk and Jennifer Horbelt for the first time.

Cat Country (KATC 95.1 FM) is also aiding in the celebration by sponsoring a free concert featuring artists Rodney Atkins and Andy Gibson at 7p.m. Atkins and Gibson are donating their time to aid in fundraising for the Battle the Blaze Fund, a special benefit established by the Pikes Peak Hill International Hill Climb to support local fire, police and other agencies that aided in the Waldo Canyon Fire effort.

“Rodney and Andy are helping us recover from the Waldo Canyon Fire and we’re happy they’re going to be here for our listeners,” said KATC program director Chris Brooks.