August 19, 2018 (Lake Placid, NY) – Lake Placid will once again be home to the Winter World Universiade Games after the International University Sports Federation (FISU) announced on Aug. 16 that the Adirondacks Region would host the competition in 2023.

The announcement was complete after New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed an Executive Order officially authorizing Lake Placid and the surrounding North Country Region to host the 31st edition of the event from the New York State Capital.

The multisport competition will see 600 universities from 60 countries around the world sending competitors to the Lake Placid area for 11 days of competition in 70 events including eight compulsory sports. The event is staged every two years, and draws thousands of athletes. Lake Placid first hosted the competition in 1972.

FISU President Oleg Matytsin was enthusiastic in his praise of the Lake Placid area getting to host the competition for a second time. “From its outset, the bid was one of the strongest we have seen,” said Matytsin. “For Lake Placid to go from Winter Universiade candidate to future host is a great moment for the international University Sports Movement. Today’s signing will have a lifelong impact on the thousands of student-athletes that will come to the Adirondack Region from all around the world.”

“Lake Place is the perfect location to host this event, which will showcase the very best of New York and the North County to an international audience,” said Cuomo. “We are proud and fortunate to have both the natural and manmade resources required for the Winter World University Games in our own backyard and we look forward to welcoming athletes from across the globe to experience all the Adirondacks has to offer.”

Local media reports indicate Lake Placid will reap many benefits from hosting the Games, including Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) sporting venue upgrades.

For instance, the ORDA’s Jon Lundin pointed to significant improvements that will be coming to the region’s premier cross-country venue Mount Van Hoevenberg, including a 5K racing loop and stadium.

According to FISU, “over 350 million worldwide broadcast viewers are expected to watch over 7,000 hours of coverage via TV and digital channels, helping keep university sport and New York State in the global spotlight.”

The upcoming 2019 Games will held from March 1-12 in Krasnoyarsk, Russia followed by the 2021 competition in Lucerne, Switzerland.

MyNBC5 video here.