Athletes from across the country are in Lake Placid this week for the USA Nordic Olympic Trials, vying for a spot on Team USA for the 2022 Beijing Olympics, as local businesses welcome new patrons ahead of the holidays. “I think that days will be busier than they might have been otherwise if the events weren’t happening,” said Lori Fitzgerald, president of the Lake Placid Business Association. Fitzgerald says the Christmas-week event is good timing for local businesses. “Typically the days right before Christmas are not as busy as the days immediately following Christmas, so to have an event drawing people into town for these couple of days is going to be a really big help for people,” she said. According to the Olympic Regional Development Authority, 2,200 tickets have been sold. “It’s just being safe and being smart and encouraging people to mask up, and we don’t spread it further than it already has,” said Fitzgerald said of businesses following statewide mandates as they welcome new customers. Mark Galvin, co-owner of The Bookstore Plus on Main Street, said they have seen plenty of locals shopping the store for last-minute holidays gifts this week.”We’re fortunate we have a great local community that supports our book store,” he said. He has spoken to a few customers who are in town for the Olympic Trials. “We can host world-class events like that, so we’re super excited to have them,” he said. The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) is excited about recent renovations to Olympic venues, drawing in athletes, families and spectators for future events like this one. “It gives us a lot of international exposure, just to be able to host those international events again, and of course it gives us that international flavor. It’s really exciting when you’re a traveler and you come to Lake Placid and you can do something so unique, as to go watch the Olympic trials,” said Mary Jane Lawrence, chief operating officer at ROOST.
Athletes from across the country are in Lake Placid this week for the USA Nordic Olympic Trials, vying for a spot on Team USA for the 2022 Beijing Olympics, as local businesses welcome new patrons ahead of the holidays.
“I think that days will be busier than they might have been otherwise if the events weren’t happening,” said Lori Fitzgerald, president of the Lake Placid Business Association.
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Fitzgerald says the Christmas-week event is good timing for local businesses.
“Typically the days right before Christmas are not as busy as the days immediately following Christmas, so to have an event drawing people into town for these couple of days is going to be a really big help for people,” she said.
According to the Olympic Regional Development Authority, 2,200 tickets have been sold.
“It’s just being safe and being smart and encouraging people to mask up, and we don’t spread it further than it already has,” said Fitzgerald said of businesses following statewide mandates as they welcome new customers.
Mark Galvin, co-owner of The Bookstore Plus on Main Street, said they have seen plenty of locals shopping the store for last-minute holidays gifts this week.
“We’re fortunate we have a great local community that supports our book store,” he said.
He has spoken to a few customers who are in town for the Olympic Trials.
“We can host world-class events like that, so we’re super excited to have them,” he said.
The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) is excited about recent renovations to Olympic venues, drawing in athletes, families and spectators for future events like this one.
“It gives us a lot of international exposure, just to be able to host those international events again, and of course it gives us that international flavor. It’s really exciting when you’re a traveler and you come to Lake Placid and you can do something so unique, as to go watch the Olympic trials,” said Mary Jane Lawrence, chief operating officer at ROOST.
