New York targets 2042 Winter Olympics

The Big Apple has begun assessing a potential bid for the Games in 16 years time, with a state-appointed committee starting a year-long feasibility study into a joint hosting proposal involving the city and Lake Placid.

According to The Athletic, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the initiative on 19 October, bringing together more than 90 representatives from business, government, sport and community organisations to evaluate whether the state should pursue the Games. The Exploratory Committee convened at the New York Athletic Club to examine the feasibility of a dual-location proposal and consider lessons from previous major sporting events. The initiative follows the state government's announcement in June that it would assess the possibility of bringing the Olympics to New York.

"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," Hochul said in an 19 October statement. "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".

New York City has never hosted an Olympic Games, while Lake Placid staged the Winter Olympics in 1932 and 1980. The proposed arrangement would combine the city's existing indoor sporting facilities with the Adirondack community's established winter sports infrastructure. The committee's initial discussions included feedback from the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, alongside assessments of New York City and Lake Placid's experience hosting major international events.

New York City recently played a role in the FIFA World Cup, with eight matches, including the final, held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey's Meadowlands. The tournament prompted transport improvements and other operational changes to accommodate visitors. The city's administration reported in September that the event generated $2 billion (€1.78bn) in additional economic activity.

Deputy Mayor Julie Su, who sits on the committee's Leadership Group, said the World Cup experience had demonstrated the city's ability to stage major sporting events. "This summer, New York showed the world that we can not only host a major sporting event, but compete with the best of them," said Deputy Mayor Julie Su, who is part of the committee's Leadership Group. "Today's Olympic exploratory committee launch is about building upon that legacy, identifying new growth opportunities, and making sure working people are at the center of every effort — big or small."

The financial implications of an Olympic bid are expected to be a central focus of the assessment, particularly the investment that could be required to upgrade transport, housing and other infrastructure in New York City. The 2026 Winter Olympics provide a recent example of the financial challenges involved. Reuters reported that the cost of staging the Milano Cortina Games had risen above $1.7bn (€1.51bn), with an additional $3.5bn (€3.12bn) in public infrastructure spending. The initial estimate for staging the Games had been $1.3bn (€1.16bn).

Lake Placid could offer a more established starting point for outdoor winter events, including skiing, luge and bobsleigh, thanks to its previous Olympic experience and existing facilities. New York City, meanwhile, has major indoor venues such as Madison Square Garden and Barclays Center that could potentially accommodate ice hockey and figure skating. However, the suitability of existing facilities, the cost of necessary upgrades and the logistics of moving athletes, officials and spectators between the two locations will need to be assessed before a bid can progress.

According to the New York State Governor's office, the committee will spend the next year consulting local leaders and evaluating infrastructure, operational requirements, financial arrangements and potential governance structures. Its work will also consider opportunities for a multi-region Winter Olympics.

The findings will be presented to state leaders, helping determine whether New York proceeds with a formal application to the International Olympic Committee for the 2042 Games. No decision to submit a bid has yet been made. Alongside the committee's launch, Hochul announced a $2.5m (€2.23m) state investment to support the construction of the 'Monument to a Miracle' in Lake Placid.

The project will establish permanent tributes to the United States men's ice hockey team that won Olympic gold at the 1980 Winter Games, in an achievement famously known as the 'Miracle on Ice', and speed skater Eric Heiden, who captured five gold medals at the same Olympics.

The investment highlights Lake Placid's continuing Olympic heritage as the state considers whether it could once again play a central role in hosting the Winter Games. The committee is organised into a Leadership Group and five subcommittees covering Games operations, finance, legal matters, community engagement and strategic advice.

Ashley Walden of the Olympic Regional Development Authority chairs the Leadership Group, which includes representatives from New York State government, the New York City administration and Lake Placid's local government. The Games Operations Subcommittee is co-chaired by Marissa Shorenstein of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment and Andrew Weibrecht of Mirror Lake Inn. Its members include representatives from professional sports, international winter sports, tourism and event management.

Serge Abergel of Hydro-Quebec Energy Services and Peter Land, a media consultant and New York University representative, co-chair the Finance Subcommittee. The Legal Subcommittee is co-chaired by Anthony Crowell of New York Law School and Robert Landau of NBCUniversal.

The Community Engagement Subcommittee is led by Grace Bonilla of United Way of New York City and James McKenna of the Uihlein Foundation, while D. Billy Jones of Clinton Community College and Joe Martens of the Olympic Regional Development Authority co-chair the Strategic Advisors Subcommittee.

The committee's year-long review will assess whether a joint New York City-Lake Placid proposal offers a viable route towards the 2042 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. Its conclusions will help establish whether the state has the infrastructure, financial capacity and political support needed to take the next step.