44th Empire State Winter Games Opening Ceremony, 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 1, in the Lake Placid Olympic Center’s Herb Brooks Arena
2,500 Winter Athletes to Gather for Thursday’s Empire State Winter Games Opening Ceremony
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. (JANUARY 24, 2024) — The 44th Empire State Winter Games (ESWG) Torch Relay concludes its five-day, 700-mile journey in Lake Placid, Thursday, Feb. 1, with the 6:30 p.m. Opening Ceremony that kicks off the Feb. 1-4 Games.
The 2024 ESWG Torch Relay begins Sunday, Jan. 28, from two starting points, Buffalo, N.Y. and the Poughkeepsie, N.Y. areas. The two routes, from West and South, will converge Thursday, Feb. 1, and head to Lake Placid for the final leg. Here’s where it will be in your area ahead of the Opening Ceremony.
Thursday, Feb. 1
Canton Community Bank, 80 Main St, Canton, N.Y. 13617, 9:30 a.m. On-site contact: Sean Despaw, sean.despaw@cbna.com, Tel: (315) 800-2687.
Tupper Lake Community Bank; 75 Park St, Tupper Lake, N.Y. 12986, 12:30 p.m. On-site contact: Christine Mozdzier, christine.mozdzier@cbna.com, Tel: (518) 359-3344 ext: 81854.
Local and area officials and dignitaries will participate in a torch welcoming ceremony.
Saranac Lake Community Bank; 46 Broadway Saranac Lake, N.Y. 12983, 2:30 p.m.. On-site contact: Amy Oliveras, amy.oliveras@cbna.com Tel: (518) 524-4147.
Escorted by the Saranac Lake Police Department, members of the Saranac Lake High School track team will run the torch down the George H. Lapan Highway to the Saranac Lake Community Bank.
Zappone Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram; 8556 NY-22, Granville, N.Y. 12832, 9:30 a.m. Contact: Matthew Zappone, mzappone@zapponemotors.com.
Ticonderoga Community Bank; 117 Montcalm St, Ticonderoga, NY 12883, 9:45 a.m. Contact: Maria Beuerlein, maria.beuerlein@cbna.com, Tel: (518) 222-5142.
Lake Placid Community Bank; 2166 Saranac Ave, Lake Placid, N.Y. 12946, 3:30 p.m. On-site contact: Amy Oliveras, amy.oliveras@cbna.com Tel: (518) 524-4147.
Lake Placid area youth hockey players will carry the torch to Lake Placid’s Olympic Center for a special torch ceremony.
With title sponsor Community Bank, N.A., along with supporting sponsors Zappone Motors, Highmark Blue Shield of Northeastern New York, Stewart’s Shops, Local Enhancement and Advancement Fund (LEAF) 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.
The 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 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.