New York governor Kathy Hochul says she wants to lead a bid for the region to host the Winter Olympic Games, which would see New York City in partnership with Lake Placid.

Speaking to The Athletic, Gov. Hochul insisted that there is “sincere” political ambition and “significant” meetings underway as she seeks to bring the Winter Olympics back to New York state for the first time since 1980, which is most fondly remembered for the Miracle on Ice, when the U.S. men’s hockey team upset the odds by defeating the Soviet Union.

The next clear opening to host the games would be 2042, with France to host 2030, Salt Lake City to host 2034 and Switzerland in exclusive dialogue with the International Olympic Committee to land 2038.

The idea for a joint bid is partly inspired by the success of the most recent Winter Olympics hosted jointly by Milan and Cortina in Italy, despite the locations being around 250 miles apart. New York City and Lake Placid are separated by under 300 miles.

Lake Placid hosted the Winter Olympics in 1980 (Tony Duffy/Allsport/Getty Images)

Gov. Hochul told The Athletic: “I’ve actually been having significant meetings on this, putting together the individuals who I would want to be part of a committee. It’s complicated, but we are up for it. As someone who will never forget the 1980 Olympics, I was in college when the Miracle on Ice occurred.

“I was actually working behind the counter in the pizzeria, listening to it on the radio and announcing to all the restaurant patrons what was happening play-by-play. I’ve been there many times. To me, it is a shrine to the perseverance of American athletes at that time that we still have with us today.

“I want to continue that celebration and have many more Miracles on Ice in New York City and in Lake Placid. I think that’s the fascinating connectivity. What other part of the world can offer this opportunity to provide what New York City has but also the most beautiful place in the world, with the Adirondack (mountains)?”

NY Governor Kathy Hochul has had ‘significant’ meetings about bringing the Winter Olympics to the region (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Robert C. Carroll, a member of the New York State Assembly, has previously said that venues such as Madison Square Garden, Barclays Center and UBS Arena could stage indoor ice events, while also pitching Big Air at Citi Field or Yankee Stadium, as well as cross-country sprint through Central Park 

Then, Lake Placid, which previously hosted in 1932 and 1980, could host many of the usual events associated with the Winter Olympics, while also benefiting from the reputation, hotels and broader infrastructure of New York City.

Asked whether a new venue could be built in the event the games are secured, Gov. Hochul said: “One never knows. This would be for later. It’s very early. I am a huge sports fan. There’s not a sport I don’t embrace, cherish and fight for. I’m a (Buffalo) Sabres fan and I’m waiting for them to turn it around. I’m a (New York) Knicks fan. I’m a Buffalo Bills fan. I am a huge soccer fan, as a mom who watched her daughter and son be coached by my husband playing for many years. So it’s part of my family and part of my DNA. So game on!”

Assemblyman Carroll has previously said that an Olympics could “accelerate long-overdue investment” in the rail corridors between Penn Station in New York City to Albany and Saratoga Springs, while suggesting the organizers could provide shuttle services from there to ferry fans to the games in Lake Placid.