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They skated away on the ice of a new day and a New Year Thursday night as the Pettit National Ice Center was unveiled in a gala grand opening.
Subzero wind chills whipped the party guests as they entered the ice center, but the dignitaries and skating fans found the temperature inside a more temperate 55 degrees.
The New Year's Eve celebration featured appearances by Olympic speed skaters Bonnie Blair and Dan Jansen, 1990 World figure skating champion Jill Trenary, and 1984 Olympic silver pairs medalists Kitty and Peter Carruthers.
The stars came out to dedicate the $13.3 million building at State Fair Park, the only enclosed facility of its kind in the United States, and one of only three in the world. It has been designated an official U.S. Olympic training site.
"When there was talk about it a couple years ago, I just thought it was talk," said Jansen, the world record-holder at 500 meters and a three-time Olympian.
"It was exciting talk, but I wasn't...