NEWSLETTER
New events added, more Olympic athletes, more winter fun!
Lake Placid, N.Y. --- In less than 30 days, Lake Placid celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Olympic Winter Games that brought this nation together like never before.
From Feb. 13-23, 2020, this two-time Olympic village, nestled in the Adirondack High Peaks, will roll out the welcome mat and offer up a full slate of activities to revel in its unmatched Olympic legacy – past, present and future. The 10-day event celebrates the Games that have long been remembered for the heroics of the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team’s improbable win over the Russians, known as the “Miracle on Ice,” speed skater Eric Heiden’s five gold medals, in world or Olympic record time; the Opening Ceremony and the United States figure skating team, dubbed the “Dream Team.”
The entire village including the Olympic venues will be on full display during this community-wide celebration and more than 20 Olympians will participate in events available to the public.
Recently Added Events:
Dream On, The 1980 Lake Placid Olympic Figure Skating Reunion Gala
Join Scott Hamilton and several members of 1980 U.S. figure skating team as they celebrate 40 years since they skated in the Lake Placid Winter Games. Dream On, The 1980 Lake Placid Olympic Figure Skating Reunion Gala will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m. Dinner takes place on the 1980 Herb Brooks Arena ice, followed by the show. The show includes performances by current U.S. pair champions Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy Leduc, U.S. men’s champion Ryan Bradley and U.S. ice dance champions of Madison Chock and Evan Bates. Along with their performances, there will be a multi-media presentation and discussion with members of the 1980 Olympic Figure Skating team. On-ice gala dinner tickets are available for $980 per table or $125 per person. Corporate sponsorship tables are also available. Call 518-302-5397. General admission tickets for the skating show are available at Tickets.com, by phone at 518-523-3330 and at the Olympic Center Box Office.
Olympian Dan Jansen: Perseverance and Perspective - A memorable story of inspiration and triumph Meet and Greet - Hear four-time Olympian and 1994 speed skating gold medalist, Dan Jansen’s heart-wrenching story, in his own words, from missing his chance at 1988 Olympic medal hours after hearing of his beloved sister’s passing to triumphing in the 1994 Olympic Games in Lillehammer. Jansen will speak and participate in a meet and greet at the High Peaks Resort on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m. This event is FREE and open to the public. For younger fans, Dan will also be appearing at the Lake Placid Public Library during their crafts event on Saturday morning from 10 a.m.-noon.
Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer™
At 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 18, Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton will lead community members in a Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer™ event, held on the Olympic speed skating oval. This “Frozen 5K” skate-a-thon is the signature fundraiser of the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation, a not-for-profit 501 c (3) dedicated to changing the future of cancer funding, research and patient care. A portion of the proceeds raised goes to Adirondack Health. The Foundation’s event website is www.mysk8.org/LakePlacidNY2020.
Lake Placid’s Olympic Legacy: An Athlete’s Perspective
This event features conversations with past, present, and future Olympians to understand their perspective on Lake Placid’s Olympic legacy and how it has and will impact future Olympic careers. The free event features Buzz Schneider (member of the Miracle on Ice team); Gordy Sheer (1992 Olympic silver medalist, doubles luge and Lake Placid resident); Erin Hamlin (four-time Olympian and the first American female luge athlete to medal at the Winter Olympics; Tim Burke (Four-time Olympic Biathlete from nearby Paul Smith’s, N.Y.); Van Ledger (Jr. Olympian in 2020 in Biathlon and Lake Placid native); Maddy Cohen (Jr. Olympian in 2020 in Mono-Bobsled) Monobob is a new sliding sport and Maddy is currently the only female member of the U.S. team and resides in Lake Placid.
Hosted by the Lake Placid Center for the Arts on Monday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m.
The Celebration
The following highlights just some more of the events planned. For more information, schedule, and updates, visit LakePlacid40.com.
- Torch run with 1980 Olympic Winter Games torchbearers and local athletes, followed by lighting of the 1980 Olympic Cauldron on the grounds of the Opening Ceremonies. State and local officials and past, present and future Olympians will be part of the ceremony. Evening ends in fireworks.
- Be a Biathlete! Experience the sport of biathlon with Olympic biathletes
- Screening of the Disney movie Miracle at Lake Placid’s Palace Movie Theatre. Admission and popcorn are free
- New York Times Best Seller Boys of Winter (an account of the Miracle on Ice) book signing by Wayne Coffey. A Long Shot to Glory and Keeper of the Olympic Flame book signing by Mike Burgess
- 80s Family Fun Party at the Olympic Ski Jumps, 80s themed trivia night, and much more.
The Legacy
Lake Placid is one of only three cities world-wide to have hosted two Olympic Winter Games, 1932 and 1980. Since then, it has played host to annual World Cup events and other large-scale sporting competitions.
The village’s Olympic legacy is unmatched. Lake Placid has sent at least one athlete to every winter Games, and in total, has sent over 100 athletes to compete, since the first modern winter Games in 1924. Several area athletes have claimed Olympic glory, including Andrew Weibrecht (Lake Placid), a two-time Olympic medalist in Super-G; Billy Demong (Vermontville), a two-time Olympic medalist and Olympic champion in Nordic Combined and Chris Mazdzer (Saranac Lake), an Olympic silver medalist in men’s singles luge. This is accomplished through Lake Placid’s commitment and support of its Olympic sports development programs.
Since taking office, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has committed nearly $240-million in funding to support the Olympic Regional Development Authority properties. These unprecedented investments in capital projects are improving the infrastructure of Olympic venues to ensure they can continue to attract and support large-scale, global events, while transforming these areas facilities into year-round attractions.
Lake Placid as a winter destination
Along with these special events, guests can experience Olympic-themed activities such as skating on the Olympic Speed Skating Oval or sliding down the Mt. Van Hoevenberg bobsled/luge/skeleton track. Adventurous guests can ride a toboggan down a 30-foot high slide that’s specifically designed to launch riders across Mirror Lake’s icy surface.
Situated between two lakes and ringed by Adirondack mountain peaks, Lake Placid beckons travelers to play outside all winter long with pursuits such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, pond hockey, dogsled rides, sledding and ice fishing. In addition, visitors can also ski and ride the greatest vertical in the east at iconic Whiteface Mountain.
For more information about all of the events and activities, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Lake Placid 1980 Olympic Winter Games, visit www.LakePlacid40.com.
Thank you to all of the anniversary’s participating sponsors. They include:
Silver:
Adirondack Health
Bronze:
Lake Placid Family Dental
Pines Inn
High Peaks Resort
Elderwood at Uihlein
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Contact: Carrie Gentile, Tel: 518-524-7126, Email: cgentile@roostadk.com, & Jon Lundin, Tel: 518-302-5313, Email: Jlundin@orda.org
40th Lake Placid Olympic Anniversary Organizing Committee
Photo courtesy of the Lake Placid Olympic Museum