Empire State Games in Lake Placid

This Friday, Empire State Winter Games competitors will flock to Lake Placid for a weekend of fun, excitement and great winter sports competitions. The first Empire State Games were held in 1978 with a summer competition in Syracuse, New York. Patterned after the Olympics, New York State's Empire State Games are not only the first and largest of its kind in the nation, but are often considered to be among the most successful - setting the standard for multi-sport amateur athletic programs. Now more than 40 states in the country conduct state games competitions. I have been involved with The Empire State Games (ESG) since we moved here nearly 21 years ago when, year one, I represented a sponsor and was the insurance and risk management professional. One fateful year I served as the cross-country race director, which is a story for another blog. That story involves the first and last time I operated a snowmobile and is an incident my friends at Mount Van Hoevenberg may still remember! I also spent many years as a volunteer and mother of a competitor. ESG is one of the best state affiliated organizations in New York. The paid staff are some of the most professional, dedicated and committed people in the sports industry. Of course, the event's success depends entirely on the participation of the many incredible volunteers. If you are looking for something to do next weekend, check out the various ESG amateur competitions scheduled for the Olympic venues.