New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the formation of an exploratory committee to assess a joint bid by Lake Placid and New York City to host the 2042 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. The committee began its work on June 22 and will conduct a year-long feasibility study focused on sustainability, fiscal responsibility, community engagement, and use of existing venues across both locations [1, 2, 3, 4].
Lake Placid previously hosted the Winter Olympics twice, in 1932 and 1980, and remains one of the few previous host sites reliably cold enough for snow through 2050 according to climate change studies. New York City would host indoor ice events and some urban snow sports at venues including Madison Square Garden, Barclays Center, and Central Park. Lake Placid would hold snow events on existing Olympic-standard courses about 300 miles north of the city [1, 2, 3, 4].
The bid concept draws inspiration from the recent 2026 Winter Games in Milano Cortina, a dual-city event that Governor Hochul cited as a model. She said, "The time is now to return the Olympic flame back to New York," and called it a "once-in-a-generation opportunity to build on Lake Placid's Olympic legacy, New York City's global platform and the strengths that make our State unique" [1, 3].
The exploratory committee is chaired by Ashley Walden, president and CEO of the Olympic Regional Development Authority, and includes state and city officials. It is important to note this phase is not a formal bid submission to the International Olympic Committee but a preliminary study of feasibility [3, 4].
The 2042 Games would be the earliest realistic target for a new U.S. Winter Olympics bid, with the IOC planning Salt Lake City to host in 2034 and Switzerland preferred in 2038. The bid aims to leverage existing venues and infrastructure to minimize costs and maximize sustainability [3, 4].
The U.S. is currently preparing to host major events such as the 2023-24 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles [1, 2]. The committee’s year-long assessment will conclude with recommendations later in 2027.
