New York Governor Takes Major Step To Bring the Olympics Back To The Empire State

POWDER reported on the rumors that New York Governor Kathy Hochul was eyeing an Olympics bid a couple of weeks ago, but today, June 22nd, marks an important official step in the process.

Hochul has announced the formation of the Lake Placid-New York City Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games Exploratory Committee, a statewide effort.

The Exploratory Committee will be 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.”

New York has hosted two Winter Olympics at Lake Placid in 1932 and 1980. The 1980 games are remembered for the USA’s Men’s Hockey “Miracle on Ice” when the team defeated the staunch Soviet Union in one of the biggest upsets in sports history.

It seems Hochul is interested in drumming up some of that Olympic magic to advance the state’s goals, but the Exploratory Committee will have the final say on the viability of hosting the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid and New York City.

““The time is now to return the Olympic flame back to New York,” Governor 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.”

Hochul, in a previous press conference, teased that Madison Square Garden could host indoor events such as ice skating and hockey, while Lake Placid would host outdoor sports such as bobsled, alpine skiing, ski jumping, cross-country skiing, freestyle skiing, and snowboarding.

Lake Placid has continued to modernize and expand its Olympic training facilities since the 1980 Games, thanks to investment from New York’s Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA), making it a potentially viable host once again.

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 Governor 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. Senator Gillibrand
• Martin Brennan, New York State Director for U.S. Senator Schumer

The next two Winter Olympics locations are decided—French Alps 2030 and Utah 2034, meaning the earliest bid New York could place would be for the 2038 Winter Olympics.

It seems unlikely that the IOC would grant back-to-back Winter Games in the United States, but Hochul and the Exploratory Committee have not committed to a specific year or bid at this time.

Stay tuned here at POWDER for updates and news related to New York’s potential bid to host the Olympics for a third time. We’ve got you covered.

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