Governor Andrew M Cuomo formally announced that New York State will welcome the World University Games to Lake Placid on January 12-22 in the year 2023. The announcement was made during a celebration of the ‘I LOVE NY’ tourism campaign that will see $1 million being invested into showcasing the region as a premier destination for high performance sports.
Governor Cuomo highlighted the plans for modernisation and reconstruction of the historic Olympic Center and speed skating oval, in the run up to the Winter Universiade 2023. These will be the first major upgrades to these facilities since the 1980 Winter Olympic Games.
Other plans include expansion of the USA Rink to Olympic size, adding retractable seating and new hospitality areas at the Herb Brooks Arena, an expanded Lake Placid Olympic Museum and a new food and beverage facility with an open-air deck overlooking the Olympic speed skating oval.
Additionally, the Olympic speed skating oval plans include a full oval replacement with expanded refrigeration. A new multi-level parking garage, behind the USA Rink, is also being considered.
The 11-day Winter Universiade is the second-largest multi-winter-sport event in the world right after the Winter Olympics and brings more than 2,400 student-athletes and officials together to compete in various sports and disciplines including Alpine Skiing, Freestyle and Cross-country Skiing, Biathlon, Speed Skating, Short Track Speed Skating, Curling, Figure Skating, Ice Hockey and Snowboarding.
In support of the 2023 games, the Governor issued Executive Order 185 directing the development of the New York State World University Games Commission, which would be responsible for providing oversight and coordination of all efforts of State government and will work with the Organising Committee, which is the Adirondack Sports Council. Representatives of the Council recently held extensive meetings with FISU staff to get the planning and execution underway.
Lake Placid holds the distinction of being America’s only two-time host of the Winter Olympic Games and has helped to build and sustain the Adirondack region’s reputation as a sports destination. With the $1 million boost from ‘I LOVE NY’ the two-year global digital campaign will be aimed at athletes around the world, highlighting the Adirondacks as home to both natural and purpose-built attractions for high performance outdoor recreation. The campaign will focus on seasonal and year-round activities, beginning this winter and extending through to 2021.
