Olympic rings in front of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), during an Executive Board meeting at the Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland, June 22, 2026. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
Taking a page from the joint efforts of Milano-Cortina to host the 2026 Winter Olympics, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul announced the formation of an exploratory committee to evaluate the potential of New York City and Lake Placid hosting the 2042 Winter Games on Monday.
Such a bid would combine the history of Lake Placid, which hosted the Winter Games in 1932 and 1980, with the necessary infrastructure that the Big Apple provides. New York City has never hosted the Olympics in any capacity, but put in bids for the 1984 and 2012 Summer Games.
“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.”
Lake Placid’s place among Olympic lore is already solidified. It was the site of one of the greatest upsets in sporting history, when the amateur United States men’s hockey team defeated the powerhouse Soviet Union in the 1980 semifinals.
Despite not hosting the Winter Games in over 40 years, Lake Placid has recently undergone $750 million in renovations in hopes of hosting international competitions and major sporting events, making it the logical site for most outdoor winter events across the skiing and snowboarding spectrum.
New York City already has numerous world-class facilities ready to host the Olympics’ marquee events, including Madison Square Garden, Barclays Center, and UBS Arena — prime sites for the hockey and figure skating.
Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images
“Lake Placid holds a long and special place in Winter Olympic history. Bringing the Olympics back to New York State would be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to have the highest level of competition featured at our world-class facilities,” New York State Senator Charles Schumer said. “Lake Placid and New York City combine unique alpine and sliding infrastructure with existing iconic stadiums and venues needed to accommodate a modern Olympics. I’m pleased that Governor Hochul is taking the first steps towards assessing whether we could bring this idea to life, and am eager to help in making it possible.”
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