Athletes Enjoy Lake Placid’s Former Olympic Facilities
Published Apr 15, 2007
Old Man Winter never competed in the Olympics, but he’s always welcome in Lake Placid and the Adirondack region.
As the location of the 1932 and 1980 Olympic Winter Games, Lake Placid holds a special place in history. And because the venues where world-class athletes competed have been maintained at top levels, tourists, Olympic hopefuls and local residents can enjoy all that the season and the area have to offer.
Following the 1980 games, the Olympic Regional Development Authority was created by the state of New York to manage the facilities. In addition, the U.S. Olympic Committee entered an agreement to use the sites for training athletes in winter and summer Olympic sports, as well as Paralympics events. The area also hosts numerous national and international competitions.
“I believe we’re a very unique organization in that we have a full complement of Olympic venues under our wing,” says Ted Blazer, president and CEO of ORDA. “I don’t know if any post-Olympic city can match that. The after-use of the venues continues our legacy, which we’re very proud of.”
Winter 2007 marks the 75th anniversary of the 1932 games, and numerous celebrations are planned, Blazer says. A full slate of winter sporting contests is also scheduled.
“The competitions do a lot of things,” he explains. “They promote Olympic sports and give athletes the opportunity to train and compete here in Lake Placid. It brings a tremendous amount of exposure to this area. On top of that, we do daily operations at these venues for the enjoyment of the general public, which is as important to us as running competitions.”
ORDA’s efforts are paying off. A study by the Technical Assistance Center at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh showed the organization’s events and activities generated $356 million statewide in 2004-05.
The U.S. Olympic Training Center here opened in 1982, says Tracy Lamb, associate director. The 28-acre complex includes a housing facility and athlete center.
“Obviously, the world has changed with technology, so we’re a wireless building,” Lamb says. “We have a computer lab, and we’re working on developing a recovery center, with massage, steam bath, sauna and lounge area.”
About 270 athletes can stay and train at the OTC, for short-term or long-term programs, depending on the sport.
In July 2006, New York Gov. George Pataki announced plans for a new $20 million, 65,000-square-foot conference center in Lake Placid. Construction is expected to begin in April 2007.
Story by Anne Gillem
Photo by Olympic Regional Development Authority
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