LAKE PLACID — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to bring the Winter Olympics back to New York. This week, she brought her push right to the source — Lake Placid.
Inside the Lake Placid Olympic Center on Monday, Aug. 3, Hochul hoisted the 1980 Winter Olympic torch, briefly donned the U.S. Women's National Ice Hockey Team's gold medal (with permission, of course) and promised the 2042 Winter Olympic torch would be the best one yet.
"I want to have a conversation about what 2042 could look like," Hochul said alongside Team USA athletes and Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls inside Herb Brooks Arena on Monday.
"It would include both Lake Placid and New York City," the governor said. "It would build on what we saw in Milan and Cortina — there's a lot of
synergy — but I also think if we got New York City involved, it would really enhance our chances of being selected as the bid."
Hochul stressed, however, that the state is "just exploring" the possibility of bringing the third Olympic Games to New York, following previous Lake Placid competitions in 1932 and 1980.
Here's the latest.
What moves has Kathy Hochul already made to bring the Olympics back to New York?
In June, the governor announced the formation of the Lake Placid-New York City Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games Exploratory Committee, which will assess over the next year or so the "feasibility of a future Winter Games concept linking Lake Placid's Olympic legacy with New York City's global platform."
The state says it has invested more than $750 million into modernizing the Lake Placid venues, which were designated as the backup plan for sliding events for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games.
While this doesn't mean the state will put in an official bid, the committee will share its findings and recommendations to state leaders for further review.
What events are taking place in Lake Placid in 2026 and 2027?
Several international and collegiate events are taking place in and around Lake Placid this year and next, which the governor's office says "reinforce New York's Olympic venues as year-round destinations for sport, recreation and tourism while supporting local businesses, attracting visitors from around the world and creating opportunities for athletes at every level."
Here are the events that have already been announced in the Lake Placid area in 2026 and 2027.
- Oct. 2-4, 2026: WHOOP Union Cycliste Internationale Mountain Bike World Series Finals at Mt. Van Hoevenberg and Whiteface Mountain
- Dec. 17-18, 2026: International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation Para Sport World Cup at Mt. Van Hoevenberg
- Jan.-Feb. 2027: Stifel International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) NorAm Cup at Whiteface Mountain
- Jan. 15-16, 2027: Lake Placid Freestyle Aerials, an Azerbaijan FIS World Cup, at the Olympic Jumping Complex in Lake Placid
- Jan. 29-31, 2027: U.S. Ski & Snowboard SuperTour at Mt. Van Hoevenberg
- Feb. 6-7, 2027: Stifel Lake Placid Ski Jumping Cup, a Viessmann FIS World Cup, at the Olympic Jumping Complex in Lake Placid
- Anticipated March 2-12, 2027: Stifel FIS Alpine Junior World Ski Championships at Whiteface Mountain
- March 5-6, 2027: Eastern College Athletic Conference Hockey Women's Championship at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid
- March 19-20, 2027: ECAC Hockey Men's Championship at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid
"Our venues continue to demonstrate why New York is one of the world's premier destinations for winter sport and year-round recreation," Olympic Authority President & CEO Ashley Walden said.
"From developing the next generation of Olympians to hosting World Cup competition and welcoming millions of visitors each year, these venues are creating opportunities that benefit athletes, communities and New York state," she said.
Emily Barnes covers state government for the USA TODAY Network-New York with a focus on how policy and laws impact New Yorkers' taxes, communities and jobs. Follow her on Instagram or X @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Hochul wants another NY Olympics. Here's what she's doing about it
