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LAKE PLACID — Even Gov. Kathy Hochul didn’t want to get ahead of herself, admiting it was hard to not get wrapped up in the buzz.
On Monday, she and members of the Lake Placid-New York City Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games Exploratory Committee toured facilities around Lake Placid.
“I think we're going to build on the result of Milano and Cortina. There's a lot of synergy, but also I think getting New York City involved would enhance our chances of being selected for the bid," Hochul said.
"As exploratory means, we're just exploring. I can’t get ahead of myself. We are just exploring the opportunities, assessing the benefits, the cost, how we could make that happen.”
The committee, formed in June, has been given one year to research the logistics of hosting joint games in New York before considering next steps.
Hochul added she’s not one to just talk about making this happen, she’s going to do something about it.
“Someone was just telling me that a lot of governors have spoken about it since 1980,” she said. “We're the ones that are actually going to do something about it. I don't talk. I do.”
Mike Hopper, CEO of Advance Brand Consulting and member of the exploratory committee, said the International Olympic Committee has a lot of questions, and answering them is their job.
“The IOC requires reams and reams of information from anybody interested in hosting these games,” he said. “So that's why this exploratory committee was put together, to answer every one of those questions with something that is a feasible solution that's right for Lake Placid.
“I don't want to put solutions out there that aren't right for local communities, that don't feel right. That's why we've got a community engagement phase as part of our work.
"But until we've got all of those answers together and we know that it's something that we can go forward and really work on, we have some homework to do.”
Hochul stated her administration has invested over $750 million to keep the facilities “top-notch, world class and that is why the world is paying attention.”
“I spoke to athletes this morning at Mt. Van Hoevenberg who are on the luge and bobsled teams, and they want to be here," she said. "They said they've been around the world. They've been to every corner competing. They said everybody talks about our facilities here in Lake Placid because we put the money there to make the changes that are necessary.”
She also lauded the Lake Placid community, which sees over 1 million visitors each year and $350 million in economic growth for the region.
Hochul believes Lake Placid and the North Country can host the Games again for an unprecedented third time.
“This area can host the Olympics in the North Country,” she said. “We've done it before. We want to do it again.
"My goal is to continue spurring economic development, creating jobs, bringing more money back to these parts of our state that meet the economic development dollars and improve it. Making sure we have the investments — not just in the facilities, but the infrastructure necessary.
“You have my commitment to do that, to find a way to unite upstate, downstate all together in search of Olympic glory. I want to inspire the next generation of New Yorkers to dream big just like we've always dreamed big here in the great state of New York.”
Hopper agreed, saying simply, "If not now, when?"
“I think this idea of bringing the Winter Olympics back to Lake Placid has been rumored for a long time,” he said. “...We've got everything. We've got great relationships with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. We've got great relationships with the IOC.
"If not now, when? So we really jumped in and decided now.”
Both Hopper and Hochul said the real push started when Lake Placid became "Plan B" for the 2026 Winter Olympics amid concerns the bobsled track in Italy wouldn't be ready in time.
“I think a lot of this started around then,” Hochul said. “If we're this ready now, why can't we be ready in two more years and get in line? You really have to, you know, stay here in lane or else you'll be talking about the 2050s.
"I want to make sure, as far off as it sounds, we take the time to get it right. We figure out the housing challenges. We figure out the infrastructure that has the roads in this area. We kind of link in New York City and the North Country. What that looks like.
"So there's a lot to do, but I think there's a right amount of time to make sure we do this right, to give ourselves a winning bid and also make sure that in this region, this state derives substantial economic benefits from that kind of opportunity. That's what my goal is.”
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On Monday, she and members of the Lake Placid-New York City Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games Exploratory Committee toured facilities around Lake Placid.
“I think we're going to build on the result of Milano and Cortina. There's a lot of synergy, but also I think getting New York City involved would enhance our chances of being selected for the bid," Hochul said.
"As exploratory means, we're just exploring. I can’t get ahead of myself. We are just exploring the opportunities, assessing the benefits, the cost, how we could make that happen.”
The committee, formed in June, has been given one year to research the logistics of hosting joint games in New York before considering next steps.
Hochul added she’s not one to just talk about making this happen, she’s going to do something about it.
“Someone was just telling me that a lot of governors have spoken about it since 1980,” she said. “We're the ones that are actually going to do something about it. I don't talk. I do.”
Mike Hopper, CEO of Advance Brand Consulting and member of the exploratory committee, said the International Olympic Committee has a lot of questions, and answering them is their job.
“The IOC requires reams and reams of information from anybody interested in hosting these games,” he said. “So that's why this exploratory committee was put together, to answer every one of those questions with something that is a feasible solution that's right for Lake Placid.
“I don't want to put solutions out there that aren't right for local communities, that don't feel right. That's why we've got a community engagement phase as part of our work.
"But until we've got all of those answers together and we know that it's something that we can go forward and really work on, we have some homework to do.”
Hochul stated her administration has invested over $750 million to keep the facilities “top-notch, world class and that is why the world is paying attention.”
“I spoke to athletes this morning at Mt. Van Hoevenberg who are on the luge and bobsled teams, and they want to be here," she said. "They said they've been around the world. They've been to every corner competing. They said everybody talks about our facilities here in Lake Placid because we put the money there to make the changes that are necessary.”
She also lauded the Lake Placid community, which sees over 1 million visitors each year and $350 million in economic growth for the region.
Hochul believes Lake Placid and the North Country can host the Games again for an unprecedented third time.
“This area can host the Olympics in the North Country,” she said. “We've done it before. We want to do it again.
"My goal is to continue spurring economic development, creating jobs, bringing more money back to these parts of our state that meet the economic development dollars and improve it. Making sure we have the investments — not just in the facilities, but the infrastructure necessary.
“You have my commitment to do that, to find a way to unite upstate, downstate all together in search of Olympic glory. I want to inspire the next generation of New Yorkers to dream big just like we've always dreamed big here in the great state of New York.”
Hopper agreed, saying simply, "If not now, when?"
“I think this idea of bringing the Winter Olympics back to Lake Placid has been rumored for a long time,” he said. “...We've got everything. We've got great relationships with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. We've got great relationships with the IOC.
"If not now, when? So we really jumped in and decided now.”
Both Hopper and Hochul said the real push started when Lake Placid became "Plan B" for the 2026 Winter Olympics amid concerns the bobsled track in Italy wouldn't be ready in time.
“I think a lot of this started around then,” Hochul said. “If we're this ready now, why can't we be ready in two more years and get in line? You really have to, you know, stay here in lane or else you'll be talking about the 2050s.
"I want to make sure, as far off as it sounds, we take the time to get it right. We figure out the housing challenges. We figure out the infrastructure that has the roads in this area. We kind of link in New York City and the North Country. What that looks like.
"So there's a lot to do, but I think there's a right amount of time to make sure we do this right, to give ourselves a winning bid and also make sure that in this region, this state derives substantial economic benefits from that kind of opportunity. That's what my goal is.”
Continue reading...
