The 44th Empire State Winter Games (ESWG) Torch Relay kicks off Sunday, Jan. 28, from two starting points, the McCann Ice Arena in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. and the Buffalo area’s Holiday Valley Ski Resort in Ellicottville, N.Y. The five-day, 700-mile journey culminates in Lake Placid for the Games’ Opening Ceremony, Thursday, Feb. 1.
With title sponsor Community Bank, N.A., along with supporting sponsors Zappone Motors, Highmark Blue Shield of Northeastern New York, Stewart’s Shops and Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort, the torch relay will be welcomed by dozens of communities along the two routes that will merge in Lake Placid.
Here’s where it will be in your area on Tuesday, Jan. 30, and Wednesday, Jan. 31:
Tuesday, Jan. 30:
Buffalo Bills Highmark Stadium; 1 Bills Dr, Orchard Park, N.Y. 14127, 9 a.m. On-site contact: Emily Kearns, Emily.Kearns@bills.nfl.net, Tel: 716-312-8657.
Waterloo Community Bank; 2 W Main St, Waterloo, N.Y. 13165, 1 p.m. On-site contact: Alexis Hobart, Alexis.Hobart@cbna.com, Tel: (315) 539-9265.
The torch will be accepted by bank employees, as well as area officials and dignitaries.
Bristol Mountain Ski Resort; 5662 NY-64, Canandaigua, N.Y. 14424, 4 p.m. On-site contact: April Haynos, AHaynos@bristolmt.com, Tel: (585) 374-1135.
Members of the Bristol Mountain freestyle ski team and race club will ski the torch down to the mountain’s base where it will be greeted by resort employees and local and regional officials and dignitaries.
Valatie Community Bank; 2967 US-9, Valatie, N.Y. 12184, 12 p.m. Contact: Crystal Lentz, Tel: (518) 755-0024.
Kiwanis Ice Rink; 6 Small World Ave, Saugerties, N.Y. 12477, 5 p.m. Contact: DJ Matthews Tel: (518) 755-0024.
A parade, beginning from Washington Ave. to Main St., down Market St. will carry the torch to the Kiwanis Ice Rink where a special torch ceremony will take place. The ceremony will include former Empire State Winter Games’ athletes, the National Anthem, performed by Lindsey Crowley, speeches from local and regional officials and delegates, as well as from the Empire State Winter Games.
Wednesday, Jan. 31:
Cazenovia Community Bank; 48 Albany St, Cazenovia, N.Y. 13035, 10 a.m. On-site contact: Heather Russell, heather.russell@cbna.com, Tel: (315) 655-3402.
Members of the Cazenovia high school track team will run the torch from the high school to the Cazenovia Community Bank where they will be met by bank employees.
Oneida Community Bank; 585 Main Street Oneida, N.Y. 13421, 2 p.m. On-site contact: Wendy Matters, Tel: (315) 363-3335.
J.M. McDonald Sports Complex; 4292 Fairgrounds Dr, Cortland, N.Y. 13045, 5:30 p.m. On-site contact: Jaime Demmerle, jaimedemmerle@gmail.com.
Highmark Blue Shield; 40 Century Hill Dr, Latham, N.Y. 12110, 12:50 p.m. On-site contact: Tricia Murray, patricia.murray@highmarkhealth.org, Tel: (631) 487-9328.
A torch parade, featuring past and current Empire State Winter Games’ athletes and the Latham police and fire departments will carry the torch down Century Hill Dr. to the Highmark Blue Shield headquarters for a special ceremony featuring local and area officials, dignitaries and members of the Empire State Winter Games’ organizing committee.
Phillips Hardware; 6517 NY-158, Altamont, N.Y. 12009, 4:30 p.m. On-site contact: Jon Phillips, Tel: (518) 281-2505.
The stop will honor STRIDE’s Sled Warriors, a sled hockey team of local athletes with disabilities, who will have their photo taken with the torch. The team, which won a silver medal in last year’s games, is hungry for gold this year and looking for a supportive send off from the community. Festivities will kick off at 4:15 p.m. and will include a short ceremony with remarks from the torch bearer. Light refreshments will be served, and the public is welcome to attend. Local government representatives will be in attendance to speak.
Additional stops from the West: the Community Bank branches in Canton, Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake, Feb. 1.
Additional stops from the South – Zappone Motors, in Granville and the Community Bank branches in Ticonderoga and Lake Placid, Feb. 1.
At some stops, the torch will be feted with parades and by local athletes and teams, dignitaries and special ceremonies.
The Feb. 1-4, 2024 ESWG, the largest amateur, Olympic-style, winter multi-sport event in the northeast is expected to draw around 2,500 athletes competing in more than 20 events. In addition to Lake Placid Tupper Lake, Saranac Lake, Paul Smiths, and Wilmington will host events during the 44th annual Empire State Winter Games.
The Games kick off on Thursday, Feb. 1, with an Opening Ceremony, which returns to Lake Placid’s Olympic Center and the Herb Brooks Arena, at 6:30 p.m. For the past two winters athletes, officials, volunteers, family, friends and spectators have gathered on the frozen ice of Mirror Lake to celebrate the Games’ opening event.
The theme for this year’s ESWG event is “Then and Now.” The event aims to celebrate the 43-year history of ESWG and recognize the commitment and dedication of the participating athletes over the years. The ceremony will highlight new sports and athletes in a setting that includes throwback imagery, uniforms and video content of athlete check-in, and in the athlete’s village.
Registration remains open and athletes can visit www.empirestatewintergames.com/sports/ to register.
For more information about the Empire State Winter Games, go to https://empirestatewintergames.com/.
Fans and athletes can also follow on Facebook, Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter, using @ESWGames and #ESWGames.
Photos from the 43rd Empire State Winter Games are available HERE.
The 44th Empire State Winter Games media credential application can be found HERE.