LAKE PLACID — New York is setting its sights on the 2042 Winter Olympics, with Gov. Kathy Hochul pitching a first-of-its-kind joint bid that would pair the historic legacy of Lake Placid with the global stage of New York City.
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 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.
“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 pitches ‘synergy’ of Lake Placid and NYC for 2042 Winter Olympics
Reporting by Emily Barnes, New York State Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Emily Barnes, New York State Team | USA TODAY Network
