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[img:ESWGpresser.jpg]LAKE PLACID, ADIRONDACKS, USA – When the 2012 Empire State Winter Games (ESWG) begin on Feb. 2 in Lake Placid, event organizers will present a menu of Games-related activities that will feature the addition of long-track speed skating, the return of ski jumping, snowboarding and a torch run, as well as other ESWG firsts.

Short-track speed skating in Lake Placid's Olympic Center, sometimes referred to a roller derby on ice, will continue as an ESWG mainstay, while inserting long track speed skating will find the racers on the same venue that saw Eric Heiden win an unprecedented five Olympic gold medals in 1980. It's also the site where Lake Placid legend Jack Shea captured two Olympic titles in 1932.

After a one year hiatus, 90 meter jumping will return to the schedule. Also, for the second consecutive year since a regional coalition took command of the ESWG from New York State, a torch run throughout the North Country will provide the lead-in to the Opening Ceremony. This is being organized by the Village of Saranac Lake.

A total of 16 disciplines will be contested during the multi-day event that concludes Feb.5.

"The various elements of the Empire State Winter Games are coming together nicely, and the Olympic Regional Development Authority's (ORDA) venues and staff are working with the numerous sport organizers to create exciting competitions," said ORDA Director of Events Jim Goff. "We're also enthused about the new (ESWG) activities, and the return of some previously held events. We want this to be memorable for the athletes, their families and the sport organizers."

Alpine skiing, centerpiece events of the annual ESWG since its inception in 1980, will be held at Whiteface Mountain, in Wilmington, with boys and girls giant slaloms on Draper's Drop. Meanwhile, Mt. Pisgah in Saranac Lake, will conduct the slaloms. The latter events will benefit from Mt. Pisgah's new Doppelmayr CTEC surface lift.

Ski cross and snowboard cross events will also occur at Whiteface Mountain giving the ESWG a modern look running parallel to the Winter Olympics.

Saranac Lake will also hold ski orienteering. This is a physical and cerebral event to be held at Dewey Mountain, just outside the village on Route 3. Ski orienteering combines endurance with technical skills, speed, and the ability to navigate the best routes through a course. Bringing ski orienteering to a different venue from Lake Placid will heighten the challenge and excitement for the athletes.

The ESWG Organizing Committee was particularly appreciative of the efforts of Mt. Pisgah, the Town of Harrietstown, the Village of Saranac Lake and Dewey Mountain since the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival also begins during the first weekend of February.

"We know Saranac Lake has its plate full with their carnival," said James McKenna, head of the ESWG Organizing Committee and President of the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism. "For them to enthusiastically reach out to host events not only shows true teamwork, but like Whiteface in Wilmington, enables us to continue branding the ESWG as a regional competition."

The ESWG committee is also finalizing several educational and cultural events, modeled after the International Olympic Committee's new Youth Olympic Games, which seeks to create the well-rounded athlete. These programs - Games firsts - will be held at night in the new Conference Center at Lake Placid, with the specifics to be announced at a later date.

For more information on the 2012 Empire State Winter Games and to register, please log on to www.empirestatewintergames.com. You can also join the ESWG Facebook page.

-ESWG-

UPDATE 1/5/12:

Along with Stewart's Shops and Price Chopper, who have previously been announced as sponsors, we are pleased to announce several new sponsors today:

• Sotheby's International Realty, a luxury home realtor focusing on the Capital Region and North Country, is back again with us this year as a returning sponsor.
• Paul Smith's College, a natural fit for our athletes who have an affinity to the Adirondacks and who may be looking at college as the next stage of their life. Paul Smith's will be sponsoring the snowshoe competition.
• Correctional Eye Care Network Services, a nationwide eye care company, who recently opened a Lake Placid office.
• Ski Monkey, a company with an innovative learn-to-ski product, has also pledged their support.
• In-kind contributors include Clif Bar, CABOT Creamery, and Young Explosives fireworks.

ESWG- 

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, Town of Harrietstown, Town of St. Armand, Plattsburgh/North Country Chamber of Commerce, Adirondack Medical Center, Sen. Betty Little, and Essex County. LPEC Quality Destination, Inc., a subsidiary of the LPEC Visitors Bureau, is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit, and is fiscally responsible for the ESWG.