About your host: The New York State Olympic
Regional Development Authority (ORDA)
Following the completion of the XIII Olympic Winter Games, hosted by Lake Placid in February 1980, the Lake Placid Olympic Organizing Committee sought state assistance to satisfy its debt of approximately $6 million. Through an innovative and cooperative effort between the state and local governments, funds were allocated to resolve the debt in exchange for the establishment of an authority to manage the Olympic facilities on an ongoing basis.
The Olympic Regional Development Authority was officially created by the state Legislature on July 3, 1981, with the purpose of combining the massive and varied infrastructure used and constructed for the 1980 Winter Olympics into one economic entity for enjoyment and use by the public and amateur athletes. Profits were earmarked to improve and expand the facilities consistent with competitive marketing needs. The concept was to combine facilities owned by the State of New York (Whiteface Mountain Ski Center, the bobsled, luge, cross country and biathlon facilities at Mt. Van Hoevenberg) with those of the Town of North Elba (the Olympic Center, Olympic Speed Skating Oval and the Olympic Jumping Complex) for efficient and effective management. Presently the Olympic Authority is an integral part of the Empire State Development Corporation.
ORDA assumed the management, operation, and promotion of the Olympic facilities in October of 1982. ORDA also serves as an integral part of on-going efforts to promote tourism in the Adirondack region, bringing events to the region and developing innovative programs such as Sports Development to increase awareness, education and youth participation in sport.
Having invested nearly $60 million in venue improvements since 1998, ORDA continues to provide training facilities for athletes from around the world. ORDA is constantly looking to expand and improve the training facilities to ensure they continue to be among the best in the world and Lake Placid maintains its recognition as the “Winter Sports Capital of the World.”
