45TH Annual Empire State Winter Games Scheduled for January 30-February 2, 2025
The Theme for 45th Empire State Winter Games’ Opening Ceremony Unveiled
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — The 45th Empire State Winter Games (ESWG) torch relay embarks on its 700-mile journey beginning Jan. 22, 2025. Kicking off in Utica, N.Y., the torch relay will make 15 stops throughout New York State before arriving in Lake Placid on Thursday, Jan. 30, for the Games’ Opening Ceremony being held in the famed Olympic Center, home to the 1980 U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team’s “Miracle on Ice.”
“The Empire State Winter Games torch relay is a powerful symbol of unity and celebration,” said Adirondack Sports Council executive director Tracy Smith. “Every year, this symbolic journey brings communities together across New York State, showcasing the spirit and pride of these Games. As we honor the legacy of the athletes and the historic venues that have shaped winter sports, we also look forward to igniting new dreams and creating lasting memories.”
With title sponsor Community Bank, N.A., along with supporting sponsors Highmark Blue Shield of Northeast New York, DICK’s Sporting Goods, Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC, Stewart Shops, Don’s Ford of Utica and Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort, the nine-day long relay will make visits to the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium, DICK’s Sporting Goods locations in Victor and Clay, as well as Community Bank locations. The torch, symbolizing a unifying spirit, inspiration, and resilience as the ESWG celebrates the power of sport and community, is also scheduled to visit schools, sports clubs, and other venues as it winds toward the two-time Olympic Village.
2025 Empire State Winter Games Torch Relay stops include: Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium, Jan. 22; Waterloo Community Bank and Chestnut Ice Arena in Lockport, Jan. 23; Gowanda Community Bank, Buffalo Bills Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park Community Bank, Jan. 24; Amherst Skating Center and DICK’s House of Sports, in Victor, Jan. 25: DICK’s Sporting Goods, in Clay, Jan. 26; Syracuse Community Bank, Jan. 27; Canton Community Bank, Jan. 28; Delmar Community Bank, Bond Schoneck & King, in Albany and Latham’s Highmark Blue Shield of Northeastern New York, Jan. 29; and Community Bank Branches in Tupper Lake, Saranac Lake and Lake Placid, Jan. 30.
At some stops, the torch will be feted with parades and by local athletes and teams, dignitaries and special ceremonies.
The 45th annual ESWG is the largest and longest continuous amateur, winter multi-sport event in the United States. This winter’s event is expected to attract winter athletes from ages eight to 80 who will compete in 24 winter sports, including sliding sports, figure skating, sled hockey, winter biking, and more. In addition to Lake Placid, Tupper Lake, Saranac Lake, Paul Smiths and Wilmington will also host events.
The Games officially kick off on Thursday, Jan. 30, 6:30 p.m., when more than 2,500 athletes participate in Opening Ceremony being held in the Olympic Center’s Herb Brooks Arena. This year’s ESWG event theme is “Chasing Dreams on Snow & Ice: The 2025 Empire State Winter Games.” The event, which is free and open to the public, aims to celebrate the inspirational journey of all the athletes who have competed in the 44-year-old history of the Games.
Registration remains open and athletes can visit www.empirestatewintergames.com/sports/ to register.
For more information or to register for the 45th 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 44th Empire State Winter Games are available HERE.
Media interested in reporting on the competitions, festivities and programs of the 45th Empire State Winter Games (ESWG), set for Jan. 30-Feb. 2, 2025 in the Adirondack, North Country region, are invited to apply for media credentials HERE.
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About the Adirondack Sports Council
The Adirondack Sports Council (ADKSC) is a not-for-profit organization established in New York’s Olympic region that combines decades of sport event management leadership, sustainability expertise, and creative engagement strategies to deliver impactful world-class experiences to communities and organizations across New York State and beyond.
The ADKSC cultivates strong partnerships with event stakeholders, participants, and communities by actively engaging in meaningful dialogue and aligning with their unique needs. This approach enables us to craft genuine, economically beneficial, and socially impactful experiences that resonate with the values and aspirations of all involved.
About the Empire State Winter Games
Founded in 1980, the Empire State Winter Games (ESWG) are a multi-day winter athletic competition headquartered in Lake Placid, NY. Amateur athletes of all ages and from all over the Northeast and Canada compete in more than 30 winter sports competitions over three days every February. The Empire State Winter Games are a community-driven event, courtesy of a partnership between the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST); the towns of North Elba, Wilmington, Tupper Lake, Harrietstown and Brighton; the villages of Lake Placid, Tupper Lake, Paul Smiths, Wilmington, and Saranac Lake; the counties of Essex and Franklin; the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA). Connect with the Games on www.EmpireStateWinterGames.com, Facebook.com/ESWGames, and Instagram.com/ESWGames.