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LAKE PLACID, ADIRONDACKS, USA – It didn't take long for the Adirondack region to understand the value of the Empire State Winter Games.

After hosting the yearly events in Lake Placid for 30 years running, New York announced that budgetary constraints were going to force the cancellation of the 2011 competitions.

Acting immediately, officials from the Lake Placid Convention and Visitors Bureau, the state Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA), the village of Lake Placid, town of North Elba and town of Wilmington created a coalition that has saved one of the premier events in the two-time Winter Olympic village.

"What's happening here to pull this together is great," said Randy Preston, supervisor of the Town of Wilmington and home to Whiteface Mountain where the skiing events will take place. "We should use this teamwork and enthusiasm to our advantage even moving forward to other initiatives. Everyone is excited that we will pull this off and hopefully make it a better event. What we've also learned is that with the state's fiscal situation, we need to take the initiative for this and other projects that might come along."

The 2011 edition will be held Feb. 25-27 at regional sites in Saranac Lake and Wilmington, as well as the Olympic venues maintained, operated and staffed by ORDA.

Yet in the aftermath of this initial act, other regional entities have stepped forward in support. Add Essex County and the Village of Saranac Lake among the growing list who see the value in maintaining the continuity of the Empire State Winter Games.

This Adirondack partnership has initially generated $70,000 in seed money to date, which includes estimated registration fees; a marketing committee has been created to seek corporate sponsorship; a website is under construction. An examination of the 2010 ESWG budget resulted in an estimated budget of $150,000 for 2011.

"It makes sense for us to do this for the athletes," said James McKenna, president of LPEC Quality Destination, Inc., which is the umbrella organization fiscally responsible for the ESWG. "The list of alums that emerged from these Games tells us how important they are to athlete development."

Olympic gold and silver medalists Bill Demong and Diann Roffe in skiing; gold medal winner Jimmy Shea in skeleton; Andrew Weibrecht, an Olympic bronze medalist in skiing, are proof positive and represent just a fraction of those who were ESWG athletes on their way to the Winter Olympics.

This fact has resonated with other entities such as the Village of Saranac Lake, whose Mayor Clyde Rabideau was a former ESWG athlete himself, eight years ago, in snow shoeing.  "Saranac Lake is eight miles away, and we benefit in a big way," said Rabideau. "We are proud and pleased to participate with Lake Placid and Essex County, and happy to be involved in the effort that will keep them going. I have known people like Craig (Lake Placid Mayor Craig Randall) and Roby (Town of North Elba Supervisor Roby Politi) for many years. They're all great people over there. I think this grassroots effort will make headlines for us around the state."

The ESWG Organizing Committee is reaching out to past competitors for their stories, and volunteers to assist with the execution of the 2011 Games. Please contact Program Director Kathy Pfohl at 518-523-2445 x 110, or email Kathy@lakeplacid.com.

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The Empire State Winter Games is a community-driven event, courtesy of a partnership between the Lake Placid CVB, the Town of North Elba, the Village of Lake Placid, the NY State Olympic Regional Development Authority, the Village of Saranac Lake, the Town of Wilmington and Essex County. LPEC Quality Destination, Inc., an arm of the LPEC Visitors Bureau, is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit, and is fiscally responsible for the ESWG.