Announces Full Membership of Lake Placid–New York City Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Exploratory Committee
Announces $2.5 Million in State Funding for Monument to a Miracle Project Honoring the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men’s Hockey Team and Five-Time Gold Medalist Eric Heiden
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the full membership of the Lake Placid–New York City Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games Exploratory Committee, with nearly 90 members. The committee held its first full meeting in New York City today, marking the next phase of an evaluation of the feasibility of hosting a future Games in New York State.
Governor Hochul also announced $2.5 million in State funding to support the Monument to a Miracle project, permanent tributes to the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team and Five-Time Gold Medalist Eric Heiden.
“New York is an Olympic State. We have the history, we have the venues, and we have a passion for sports that’s second to none,” Governor Hochul said. “Today, I’ve assembled a team of the best and the brightest in sports, government, business and community leadership from all corners of the state to ensure we are in the best position possible to build a roadmap to bring the Olympic flame back to New York.”
Building on the Governor's June announcement of the Committee's leadership group and subcommittee co-chairs, the full Committee brings together leaders from government, business, sports and community organizations. The Committee will examine the opportunities, challenges and long-term considerations associated with a potential 2042 Winter Games in New York State.
Full Exploratory Committee Membership
The following individuals are serving on the Lake Placid–New York City Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games Exploratory Committee.
Leadership Group
- Ashley Walden (Chair), Olympic Regional Development Authority
- Martin Brennan, Office of U.S. Senator Schumer
- Assemblymember Robert Carroll
- Jarred Jones, Office of U.S. Senator Gillibrand
- Deputy Mayor Jackie Kelly, Village of Lake Placid
- Secretary to the Governor Karen Persichilli Keogh, NYS Executive Chamber
- Commissioner Hope Knight, Empire State Development
- Deputy Mayor Julie Su, City of New York
Games Operations Subcommittee
- Marissa Shorenstein (Subcommittee Co-Chair), Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment
- Andrew Weibrecht (Subcommittee Co-Chair), Mirror Lake Inn
- Jeff Byrne
- Kelly Cheeseman, NY Islanders and UBS Arena
- Claire DelNegro, FIL - International Luge Federation
- Tom Harris, Times Square Alliance
- Jill Lafer, 92NY
- Alex Lasry, FIFA World Cup 2026 NYNJ Host Committee
- Martina Lussi, Grandview Lake Placid
- John Morgan, JFM Sports
- Laura Pegula, Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres
- Jeff Potter, Monument to a Miracle
- Carlo Scissura, New York Building Congress
- Edward Smith, New York Athletic Club
- Craig Weatherup
- Tom Wright, Regional Plan Association
Finance Subcommittee
- Serge Abergel (Subcommittee Co-Chair), Hydro-Quebec Energy Services
- Peter Land (Subcommittee Co-Chair), Media Consultant and New York University
- Cali Brooks, Adirondack Community Foundation
- Greg Carey, Goldman Sachs
- Josh Cohen, NY Mets
- John Collins, NY Islanders
- Sharon Greenberger, YMCA of Greater New York
- David Heidercorn, L Catterton
- Reed Miller, High Peaks Resort
- Bruce Monette Jr., Adirondack Energy Products
- James Patchett, Gilbane Development Company
- Paul Pogge, IMA Financial Group
- Julie Samuels, Tech:NYC
- Rob Speyer, Tishman Speyer
- Blake G. Washington, NYS Division of the Budget
- Supervisor Joe Pete Wilson, Town of Keene
- Ann Wool, United Entertainment Group
Legal Subcommittee
- Anthony Crowell (Subcommittee Co-Chair), New York Law School
- Robert Landau (Subcommittee Co-Chair), NBCUniversal
- Jarrod Bernstein, Morrison Cohen
- James Bilsborrow, Weitz & Luxenberg
- Rick Cotton
- Elizabeth Fine, Liz Fine Advisory LLC
- Adrienne A. Harris, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
- Walter Kane, Cary Kane PLLC
- Bill Kissel, Of Counsel Norfolk Beier
- Randy Levine, New York Yankees
- Alex McKhann, Chelsea Piers Foundation
- Stephanie Pianka, Adirondack Community Foundation
Community Engagement Subcommittee
- Grace Bonilla (Subcommittee Co-Chair), United Way of New York City
- James McKenna (Subcommittee Co-Chair), Uihlein Foundation
- Katie Brennan, Village of Lake Placid
- Victor Calise, Walmart
- John Calvelli, Wildlife Conservation Society
- Adele Connors, Point Positive
- Gary Gertzog, Fanatics
- Dan Kelting, Paul Smith’s College
- Pat Kiernan, Spectrum News NY1
- Tuffy Latour, Bobsled/Skeleton Coach
- Rich Maroko, Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, AFL-CIO
- Frankie Miranda, Hispanic Federation
- Manny Pastreich, 32BJ SEIU
- Abby Praetorius, North Country Chamber of Commerce
- Andrew Rigie, New York City Hospitality Alliance
- Elinor Tatum, New York Amsterdam News
- Maria Torres-Springer, Charles H. Revson Foundation
- L. Joy Williams, NAACP New York State Conference
Strategic Advisors Subcommittee
- D. Billy Jones (Subcommittee Co-Chair), Clinton Community College
- Joe Martens (Subcommittee Co-Chair), Olympic Regional Development Authority
- Rebecca Dayton, Olympic Regional Development Authority
- Fred Dixon, NYC Tourism + Conventions
- Commissioner Mike Flynn, NYC Department of Transportation
- Steve Fulop, Partnership for New York City
- Executive Director Kathryn Garcia, Port Authority of NY and NJ
- Andrew Heinrich, Project Rousseau
- James Katz, NYS Executive Chamber
- Andrew Kimball, New York University
- Erik Kulleseid, Open Space Institute
- Kevin Law, Empire State Development
- Ross Levi, NYS Division of Tourism / Empire State Development
- Darcy Norfolk Rowe, Olympic Regional Development Authority
- Emma Pfohman, Association for a Better New York
- Basil Seggos, Foley Hoag
- Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez, NYS Department of Transportation
- Tait Wardlaw, Olympic Regional Development Authority
Exploratory Committee Begins Its Work
First announced in June, the Exploratory Committee is examining whether a modern, regionally coordinated Winter Games concept connecting Lake Placid and New York City could be feasible under the International Olympic Committee's current hosting requirements.
The Committee is guided by a Leadership Group chaired by Olympic Regional Development Authority President and CEO Ashley Walden and supported by five subcommittees focused on Games Operations, Finance, Legal, Community Engagement and Strategic Advisors.
The full Committee convened October 19 at the New York Athletic Club in Manhattan for briefings on the Olympic and Paralympic Movement, perspectives from Milano Cortina 2026, and Lake Placid and New York City's experience hosting major events, most recently the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Over the course of the exploratory process, members will examine Lake Placid and New York’s existing infrastructure and operational capabilities, financial and governance models, and opportunities for a multi-region Winter Games concept to deliver long-term community and economic benefits. The Committee will engage communities across the state and solicit public input to shape the findings and recommendations outlined in its final report.
The exploratory process is expected to continue over approximately one year, with findings and recommendations provided to State leadership for review. The effort is not a formal Olympic or Paralympic bid, and no final decision has been made to pursue hosting.
Building on New York's Olympic Legacy
Lake Placid hosted the Olympic Winter Games in 1932 and 1980 and continues to welcome international competitions, national teams and visitors from around the world. More than $750 million in State investments has modernized the region's Olympic sports infrastructure, supporting year-round recreation, athlete development and international competition.
Together with New York City's global connectivity, world-class venues, hospitality capacity and experience hosting major international events, these existing assets provide a foundation for exploring a modern, regional approach to hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
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