Committee formed to consider Lake Placid-NYC Winter Olympics feasibility

ALBANY | Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced the formation of the Lake Placid-New York City Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games Exploratory Committee, a statewide effort tasked with evaluating the feasibility of a future Winter Games concept linking Lake Placid's Olympic legacy with New York City's global platform. The committee will assess whether a modern, regionally coordinated Winter Games model built around existing venues, sustainability, fiscal responsibility, and community engagement could support the State's broader economic, tourism, infrastructure, and regional development goals. "The time is now to return the Olympic flame back to New York," Gov. Hochul said. "Milano Cortina showcased the immense possibility that comes with a dual city Olympic Games. It's clear we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build on Lake Placid's Olympic legacy, New York City's global platform, and the strengths that make our State unique. That's why I've assembled some of the best and the brightest in sports, government and community leadership to take the steps necessary to ensure New York is in the best possible position to make the dream of a Lake Placid-New York City Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games a reality." ABOUT THE EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE The exploratory process is expected to unfold over approximately one year. Through focused workstreams, stakeholder engagement, and public input, the Exploratory Committee will evaluate whether a future Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games concept, with events centered in Lake Placid and New York City, could responsibly advance New York State's long-term priorities. The formation of the Exploratory Committee does not represent a commitment to pursue a formal Olympic or Paralympic bid. At the conclusion of the process, the committee will submit its findings and recommendations to State leadership for review. Future actions will be determined after completion of the exploratory process and evaluation of its findings. The Exploratory Committee effort will be guided by a Leadership Group chaired by Ashley Walden, President and CEO of the Olympic Regional Development Authority, and composed of leaders from state and local government, economic development, and public service. The full membership of the Exploratory Committee Leadership Group includes: Ashley Walden, President and CEO of the Olympic Regional Development Authority (Chair) Karen Persichilli Keogh, Secretary to Gov. Kathy Hochul Hope Knight, President, CEO and Commissioner of Empire State Development New York City Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su Village of Lake Placid Deputy Mayor and Trustee Jackie Kelly Assemblymember Robert Carroll Jarred Jones, New York State Director for U.S. Sen. Gillibrand Martin Brennan, New York State Director for U.S. Sen. Schumer Supporting the Leadership Group will be a series of subcommittees, each led by two co-chairs, including: Community Engagement Subcommittee: co-chaired by James McKenna, Vice Chair and CEO of the Uihlein Foundation, and Grace Bonilla, President and CEO of United Way of New York City Finance Subcommittee: co-chaired by Serge Abergel, Chief Operating Officer of Hydro-Quebec Energy Services, and Peter Land, Media Consultant and Adjunct Professor at the NYU Stern School of Business Games Operations Subcommittee: co-chaired by Andrew Weibrecht, two-time Olympic medalist and Operations Manager at the Mirror Lake Inn, and Marissa Shorenstein, Chief External Affairs Officer of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment Legal Subcommittee: co-chaired by Anthony W. Crowell, New York Law School Dean and President, and Director, Center for New York City and State Law, and Robert Landau, Executive Vice President for Business Operations at NBCUniversal Senior Advisors Subcommittee: co-chaired by D. Billy Jones, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Workforce Development at Clinton Community College, and Joe Martens, Board Chair of the Olympic Regional Development Authority. OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC DAY AND A NEW ERA FOR AMERICAN SPORT As Olympic & Paralympic Day approaches, communities around the world prepare to celebrate the founding of the modern Olympic Movement and the values of participation, friendship, and excellence that unite athletes across generations. Few places embody those values more than Lake Placid. As one of only a handful of communities worldwide to host the Olympic Winter Games twice—in 1932 and 1980—Lake Placid continues to play an important role in the Olympic & Paralympic movement. More than four decades after the Miracle on Ice captivated the world, the community remains a destination for international competitions, elite training camps, and major sporting events. More than $750 million in State investments have transformed and modernized Lake Placid's Olympic venues, helping position the region as a year-round hub for recreation, athlete development, and international competition. Its venues were recently designated as the contingency sliding venue for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games, further demonstrating their ongoing relevance on the world stage. Together with New York City's global prominence as a destination for major sporting, cultural, and entertainment events, New York offers a unique opportunity to explore how Olympic heritage and modern regional hosting concepts could intersect in the future. NEW YORK STATE'S WORLD-CLASS WINTER SPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE New York State has made generational investments in winter sports infrastructure in recent years, modernizing facilities in Lake Placid and positioning them to host international competitions, athlete development programs, and major events. Those investments, combined with the State's broader transportation, hospitality, venue, and event-hosting assets, provide a strong foundation for evaluating whether a future Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games concept could be feasible, sustainable, and fiscally responsible. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EXPLORATORY PROCESS The exploratory process is being conducted with the knowledge of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and reflects the modern Olympic approach of long-term evaluation, stakeholder engagement, and due diligence before any consideration of a formal bid. Village of Lake Placid Deputy Mayor Jackie Kelly said, "Lake Placid has a remarkable Olympic legacy, and I am grateful to Mayor Devlin for giving me the opportunity to help explore what another Winter Games could mean for our community. The goal will be to carefully evaluate whether hosting another Winter Olympics can honor our history while creating lasting benefits for residents, businesses, and future generations. I look forward to working with a talented and knowledgeable team to assess the possibilities ahead." Assemblyman Michael S. Cashman said, "As the Assemblymember representing Lake Placid and the North Country, I strongly support Governor Hochul's decision to launch this exploratory effort to evaluate a potential Lake Placid-New York City Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games. "Lake Placid has a strong Olympic legacy and the potential to host the games again. From the 1932 Games to the 1980 'Miracle on Ice,' this community has shown the world what excellence looks like on the global stage. Today, with modern world-class facilities and sustained state investment, we have an opportunity to build on that legacy and demonstrate how New York innovation can continue to shape the future of international sport. "This exploratory process reflects a forward-looking approach examining how New York State connecting Lake Placid's mountain venues with New York City's global platform can once again show the world what is possible when we invest in infrastructure, community, and vision. I have long believed in a simple guiding principle: plan the work, work the plan. The 2026 Milan-Cortina Games can serve as a framework for how the Empire State thoughtfully positions itself toward a potential 2042 Games. "I want to thank Governor Kathy Hochul for her leadership, Assemblymember Robert Carroll for his service on the leadership committee, former Assemblymember D. Billy Jones for his continued commitment to the North Country, and all of the partners helping guide this important effort."

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Committee formed to consider Lake Placid-NYC Winter Olympics feasibility

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