Monday morning was a big day for sports in New York state.
The long-rumored bid for New York City and Lake Placid to co-host the Olympic Games is now one step closer to reality.
After hosting the 1932 and 1980 Olympic Games, Lake Placid became known as the winter sports capital of the world. But it could never happen for a third time, right? The games are too big, too commercial. Lake Placid is much too small. Well, New York state is thinking outside the box, and the folks in New York City and Lake Placid still believe in miracles.
“I want to find the dreamers and the doers,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said Monday afternoon at the New York Athletic Club in Manhattan. “Find me the best and the brightest.”
Hochul announced the committee that will figure out if New York state could host a future Olympic Games, a partnership between New York City and Lake Placid.
“You can do all the stuff you want, but I’m expecting the answer to be a resounding ‘yes.’ We can pull this off,” she said.
The committee’s first meeting was also Monday. Members discussed the initial plan. A bid would likely see opening ceremonies and major events in New York City.
“New York City’s never hosted the Olympics,” state Assembly Member Robert Carroll (D-Brooklyn) said. “It’s the world’s greatest sporting event. We saw how amazing the World Cup was. Imagine if we had 19 straight days of competition right here in New York City.”
Lake Placid in the Adirondacks would host the skiing, sliding and sled events.
“It’s just really fun and exciting that we’re having the conversation,” New York State Olympic Committee member Andrew Weibrech said. “You know, whatever comes from it. I think it just creates the relevancy for Lake Placid.”
The governor is hopeful the committee can have a bid ready to submit in about a year. The logistics, the facilities, because while the 2030, 2034 and 2038 games are already claimed, the 2042 games are the goal. Some of the athletes who will participate in the games 16 years from now may not even be born yet. But believe it or not, she said, with all the work ahead, that date will be here much quicker than it seems.
“And I know when we finish our work over this next year, that we’ll put forth a proposal that people will say, ‘of course, it just makes sense,'” she said.
There is no formal bid yet.
And while we look forward to a potential Olympic return to the Adirondacks, a major triathlon is set to take up residence in the North Country. Ironman announced that a new 70.3-mile race is coming to Lake George next June. Athletes will swim through the “Queen of the American Lakes” before biking and running through the gorgeous Adirondacks.