Lake Placid leaders: Winter Empire State Games will go on

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. - Local officials say the Empire State Games are back on this winter with help from community leaders in the Lake Placid area, the home of the games.

Organizers of the Olympic-style amateur athletic contests were shocked Tuesday when state officials told them they were being canceled because of budget cutbacks.

Now Lake Placid village Mayor Craig Randall says local leaders rallied to keep the winter event going and it will be held from Feb. 25 to 27 at Olympic Regional Development Authority venues.

Lake Placid/Essex County Visitors Bureau President Jim McKenna says Thursday they're confident of raising enough money from business sponsorships across the state to support the contests. The cost of the event wasn't immediately available from the state Division of the Budget.

The future of the summer, senior and games for the physically challenged remain uncertain.