A committee tasked with evaluating the potential for New York City and Lake Placid to host the 2042 Winter Olympics convened for its inaugural meeting on Monday. The panel, comprising 88 members and announced in June by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, will assess the feasibility of the state hosting the global competition for the first time since the 1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid.
The committee met at the New York Athletic Club in Manhattan. Discussions included feedback from the upcoming 2026 Milano Cortina Games and an examination of Lake Placid's and New York's prior experience hosting major sporting events, such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
"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 stated. "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."
Governor Hochul also announced on Monday that the state will provide $2.5 million in funding to establish permanent tributes in Lake Placid. These memorials will honor the 1980 U.S. men's ice hockey team, known for the "Miracle on Ice," and five-time gold medal-winning speed skater Eric Heiden.
The exploratory committee includes an eight-member leadership group, along with subcommittees focused on legal issues (12 members), financing (16 members), game operations (16 members), and community engagement (18 members), supplemented by 18 senior advisers. Prominent figures from the sports industry on the committee include John Collins, co-owner of the New York Islanders; Randy Levine, president of the New York Yankees; and Laura Pegula, a minority owner of the Buffalo Bills.
The exploratory process is projected to last approximately one year. Lake Placid has previously hosted the Winter Games in 1932 and 1980. France is scheduled to host the 2030 Winter Games, followed by Salt Lake City in 2034, and Switzerland is considered the leading candidate for the 2038 competition.