As the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) in Lake Placid waits to hear where the sliding events will be held in the 2026 Milano-Cortina games, organizers have already started planning in the event that they host. In December, the track at Mount Van Hoevenberg was named as the backup site for luge, skeleton, and bobsled if construction at the Eugenio Montri track is not finished in time. ORDA told NBC5 that they expect to have an update by March 24. It’s been 45 years since Lake Placid hosted the Olympics, and the games have grown significantly since then. The question is whether the village has the infrastructure now to do it again, with 170 sliding athletes who would stay there. The Lake Placid plan calls for Paul Smith’s College, a small private school about 28 miles from Mount Van Hoevenberg, to serve as an athlete’s village. Officials said the school would close in January and February to accommodate that plan, and students there — many of whom are studying either sports management or hospitality — could work the games. ORDA’s CEO, Ashley Walden, said the college is “the perfect size.””We want the athletes to have their village feel, and Paul Smith’s lets us accomplish that,” Walden said. Hotel rooms have already been secured for potential visitors and ORDA plans to spend $80 million in the coming months to build more spectator seating and modernize refrigeration systems at the track. “It needs to be bigger than the everyday race,” Walden said. “That’s where New York City and the fanfare that we can offer, in addition to the race-night competition here, is crucial.”Lake Placid’s bid plan included possible medal ceremonies in Rockefeller Center, where thousands of fans can cheer for the athletes and studios for NBC (the official Olympic broadcaster) are just steps away. The bid also mentioned the possibility of charter flights to and from Montreal, Albany and Plattsburgh for athletes who want to attend the opening and closing ceremonies in Milan. The plan would take months to execute. According to ORDA, the sooner they hear from the Olympic Committee, the better. “We are coming to a crucial point where we have to make a decision,” Walden said. “We have a vision for what it should be, and we want to be successful in achieving that. The less lead time that we have, the less likely that is.”So far, the Italian agency in charge of building the Cortina track has said that “everything is going according to plan.” The site is slated to be tested between March 24 and March 31. The Milano-Cortina games are scheduled to begin with the opening ceremony at San Siro Stadium in Milan on Feb. 6, 2026. The Associated Press contributed to this article.
As the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) in Lake Placid waits to hear where the sliding events will be held in the 2026 Milano-Cortina games, organizers have already started planning in the event that they host.
In December, the track at Mount Van Hoevenberg was named as the backup site for luge, skeleton, and bobsled if construction at the Eugenio Montri track is not finished in time.
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ORDA told NBC5 that they expect to have an update by March 24.
It’s been 45 years since Lake Placid hosted the Olympics, and the games have grown significantly since then. The question is whether the village has the infrastructure now to do it again, with 170 sliding athletes who would stay there.
The Lake Placid plan calls for Paul Smith’s College, a small private school about 28 miles from Mount Van Hoevenberg, to serve as an athlete’s village. Officials said the school would close in January and February to accommodate that plan, and students there — many of whom are studying either sports management or hospitality — could work the games. ORDA’s CEO, Ashley Walden, said the college is “the perfect size.”
“We want the athletes to have their village feel, and Paul Smith’s lets us accomplish that,” Walden said.
Hotel rooms have already been secured for potential visitors and ORDA plans to spend $80 million in the coming months to build more spectator seating and modernize refrigeration systems at the track.
“It needs to be bigger than the everyday race,” Walden said. “That’s where New York City and the fanfare that we can offer, in addition to the race-night competition here, is crucial.”
Lake Placid’s bid plan included possible medal ceremonies in Rockefeller Center, where thousands of fans can cheer for the athletes and studios for NBC (the official Olympic broadcaster) are just steps away.
The bid also mentioned the possibility of charter flights to and from Montreal, Albany and Plattsburgh for athletes who want to attend the opening and closing ceremonies in Milan.
The plan would take months to execute. According to ORDA, the sooner they hear from the Olympic Committee, the better.
“We are coming to a crucial point where we have to make a decision,” Walden said. “We have a vision for what it should be, and we want to be successful in achieving that. The less lead time that we have, the less likely that is.”
So far, the Italian agency in charge of building the Cortina track has said that “everything is going according to plan.” The site is slated to be tested between March 24 and March 31.
The Milano-Cortina games are scheduled to begin with the opening ceremony at San Siro Stadium in Milan on Feb. 6, 2026.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
