WATCH TODAY AT 12P: Alysa Liu’s Oakland hometown rally, celebration following Olympic gold medal win

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) — Oakland will honor its latest hometown hero, gold medalist Alysa Liu, with a large celebration and rally Thursday afternoon.

ABC7 Eyewitness News will be streaming the event live in the media player above or wherever you stream us.

Thousands of people are expected to come to the rally this afternoon outside Oakland City Hall, where crews have been working all week setting up a stage.

Liu is ushering in a new era of figure skating as the first American woman to win Olympic gold in figure skating since 2002.

MORE: Oakland’s Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu inspires young athletes at her local ice rink

The city says Liu’s talent championed Oakland on the worldwide stage.

“Alysa Liu, she represented The Town!” City Councilmember Ken Houston said. “When she skated, she showed style, she showed finesse, she showed Oakland style. And when she bit the coin, she let ’em know that Oakland is in the house. So we are so proud of her.”

Liu is expected to speak, but said she doesn’t know most of the program and is choosing to be surprised.

There’s going to be performers, singers and other speakers.

The city has also promoted a surprise final act.

This event is sold out with 5,000 tickets sold.

Since arriving back from the Olympics, a billboard congratulating her has popped up and she’s been spotted all around the Bay Area.

FROM THE ARCHIVE: Oakland’s Alysa Liu was making history at 13 and had Olympic dreams