New York to consider dual bid by NYC and Lake Placid to host the Winter Olympics

June 22, 2026

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy; photo credit: profernity on Flickr.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday the formation of a state committee to explore the possibility of a bid by Lake Placid and New York City to co-host a future Winter Olympics. The Lake Placid-New York City Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Exploratory Committee would evaluate the feasibility of a 2042 Winter Games concept–similar to this year’s Olympics in Milan and Cortina–that made use of Lake Placid’s Olympic legacy and New York City’s global platform, according to the governor.

“The time is now to return the Olympic flame back to New York. Milano Cortina showcased the immense possibility that comes with a dual city Olympic Games,” Hochul said. “It’s clear we have 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.”

France will host the event in 2030, Salt Lake City in 2034, and Switzerland is in discussion with the International Olympic Committee for 2038. The Winter Olympics have not been hosted by New York since 1980. That year saw the U.S. men’s hockey team defeat the Soviet Union in the well-remembered “Miracle on Ice.”

According to the New York Times, the dual-hosting idea was inspired by the recent Winter Olympics hosted jointly by Milan and Cortina in Italy. The two cities’ distance from one another (about the same as that of New York City and Lake Placid) did nothing to diminish the success of the event.

In a statement to the Times, Hochul said: “What other part of the world can offer this opportunity to provide what New York City has but also the most beautiful place in the world, with the Adirondack (mountains)?”

Assembly Member Robert Carroll, who has lobbied for a shared Winter Olympics in NYC and Lake Placid for years, will be a member of the Exploratory Committee Leadership Group.

In an op-ed in the Daily News in December, Carroll and former Assembly Member Billy Jones explained that the Olympics could “accelerate long-overdue investment” in the state’s rail corridors and would be an overall “great opportunity.”

“I’m honored to serve on the leadership team evaluating this once-in-a-generation opportunity for New York State,” Carroll said.

“This exploratory effort is an important first step in understanding what a future Winter Olympic bid could mean for our economy, infrastructure, tourism industry, and New York’s place on the world stage. I’ve long believed New York City and Lake Placid can tell a uniquely New York story, one of urban and rural communities coming together behind a shared vision.”

NYC sought to host the 2012 Summer Olympics, but ultimately lost the bid to London. The proposed Olympic stadium would have been built on the West Side of Manhattan.

As 6sqft previously reported, NYC’s proposed 2012 Olympic Village would have transformed the Queens waterfront and Manhattan’s West Side. According to the Bloomberg administration, the event would have created 125,000 jobs and added $11 billion to the city’s economy.

The yearlong exploratory process will include focused workstreams, stakeholder engagement, and public input.

The committee will then submit its findings and recommendations to state leadership for review. The Exploratory Committee effort will be led by a Leadership Group chaired by Ashley Walden, President and CEO of the Olympic Regional Development Authority, along with leaders from state and local government, economic development, and public service.

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