New York — Lake Placid nearly became a host again during the last Olympics. Due to issues with the sliding venues, it nearly became a substitute host for the events. To build off that momentum, they are planning to host the Olympics in the future.
The Athletic reports that New York Governor Kathy Houchal is currently working with local officials to prepare a bid for the Winter Olympics, most likely aiming for 2042. The plan is to host some events, such as the Opening/Closing Ceremonies and major hockey events, in New York City. The Big Air events could be based in NYC, with possibilities being Citi Field or Yankee Stadium. Another idea is the Cross Country Sprint at Central Park, though that one seems kinda risky given the lack of snow in NYC. The rest of the competitions would take place in and around Lake Placid.
The move draws inspiration from the 2026 Olympics in Milan and Cortina, where events were held within 250 miles of each other. Despite some hiccups in the lead-up to the 2026 Olympics, Italy received a lot of praise during and after the Games.
While climate change is definitely a concern, the sites around Lake Placid are bolstered by strong snowmaking systems. In terms of mountains, you’d have to imagine Olympic Regional Development Authority’s (ORDA) three ski resorts being a part of this, with a particular focus on Whiteface due to its historical significance.
We’ll see if there’s any hesitation from the IOC due to the warming winters and relative time proximity to the 2028 games in LA and 2034 games in Salt Lake City. However, with the IOC’s narrowing list of hosts due to a changing climate, anything’s possible.
Image/Video Credits: Virgilio de Carvalho, Chronicle 5 WCVB
