Olympic Regional Development Authority President and CEO Mike Pratt said, “Our Olympic infrastructure will soon host college and university athletes from around the world. The excitement is building, and our position in the world of sport is rising. ORDA venues are increasingly valuable assets that will yield extraordinary results for decades to come.”
Over the last six years, New York State has made significant investments in ORDA’s state-of-the-art training and competition facilities, including over $500 million across all ORDA venues and operations in the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains. As a result of these investments, ORDA facilities are open year-round for events, athlete training, and recreation. ORDA venues host local, regional, national, and international events, including the FISU World University Games, which will be followed by the Synchronized Figure Skating World Championships in March 2023 and the Bobsled Skeleton World Championships in February 2025.
The state has also invested heavily in winter sports infrastructure across the North Country region. Empire State Development (ESD) is supporting the upgrade of Saranac Lake Civic Center in Franklin County with a $4.5 million Upstate Revitalization Initiative grant, with the facility scheduled to host the Games’ Curling events. Other ESD investments include funding to advance projects like Adirondack Health’s Lake Placid Health and Medical Fitness Center, Saranac Waterfront Lodge, and Hotel Saranac.
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “The FISU World University Games will showcase Lake Placid and the surrounding North Country communities to a global audience. The state’s strategic investments to support and grow the region’s tourism and competitive sports infrastructures are crucial to the success of the Games, and further promoting the region as a winter sports destination.”
Adirondack North Country Sports Council Executive Director Ashley Walden said, “We’re excited to utilize the technology and expertise of Alfred University. The glass insert is another demonstration of our commitment to hosting the most sustainable FISU Games to date, an integral part of the Save Winter initiative.”
ESPN Senior Director of Programming and Acquisitions Dan Margulis said, “The FISU World University Games will add to Lake Placid’s rich history of hosting world-class winter sports competitions, and ESPN is thrilled to showcase the events and the thousands of collegiate athletes who will participate from around the world.”
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