Empire State Games

Early history One of the original organizers of the Empire State Games was Herbert Mols of Buffalo, New York. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU__5V9RAcc0) The first Empire State Games took place at Syracuse University in 1978, the first state games to be held in the United States. The games remained in Syracuse until a delegation from Western New York led by Herb Mols, Bob Rich, Bob Bedell, Carl Roesch Sr., Dr. Marc Grosso, Gardner Debo, Mark Sternin and Ed Rutkowski brought the Games to Buffalo, New York in 1985 and 1986. With the success of the first 1978 games, the Empire State Games have sparked the creation of other state games across the country. Before their cancellation, the Empire State Games were the largest state-supported amateur athletic competition in the nation. The Empire State Games competition was a member of the National Congress of State Games, and was a recognized State Games Program of the United States Olympic Committee. Cancellations The 2008 Empire State Games took place from July 23 through July 27, 2008 in Binghamton. The 2009 Empire State Games were cancelled. In 2010 the games were revived and held from July 21 through July 25, 2010 in Buffalo, New York. Due to a lack of state funding, the 2011 Summer games were discontinued on November 17, 2010. The community of Lake Placid was able to save the winter games. As for the Games for the Physically Challenged, they were able to be saved with the help of Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano and the partnership with dozens of private sector sponsors. A second version of the Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged in Western NY continued at SUNY Brockport College with the aid of corporate sponsors and private funding from Camp Smile Inc., a local not-for-profit organization aligned with the Webster Lions Club and dedicated to providing services to children with disabilities. Return of the games In 2012 Empire State Sports Foundation (ESSF) was created with the specific goal of rejuvenating the Hugh L. Carey Empire State Games for amateur athletes of New York State. ESSF is a Rochester, New York-based not-for-profit public charity dedicated to the recognition and promotion of competitive excellence among New York State’s amateur athletes, as well as those attributes associated with sports: personal health, fitness, development, education, sportsmanship and teamwork. The Empire State Summer Games were prepared to return in 2013, but as the ESSF were finding corporate partners, they discovered that corporate sponsors had "been giving any extra funds to Hurricane Sandy relief, leaving little extra room for other worthy causes". The Empire State Games are going to be re-launched in Rochester in the summer of 2014. Upon hearing that The Empire State Summer Games for 2013 was cancelled Nassau County announced that they will hold the 2013 Games for the Physically Challenged as they have done for the last two years. In an April 2013 press conference, Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano stated, "The 2013 Games would not have been able to happen without the genius donation of $50,000 US dollars by NBTY, Inc. through their Helping Hands Charity." Known locally as the Nassau County Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged, the 2013 games took place May 30 through June 1. Meanwhile the Brockport Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged in Monroe County celebrated "36 Years of Abilities" in 2023 with continued private funding from Camp Smile Inc. and local corporate and community support. End of an era According to media reports April 2014, the Empire State Sports Foundation (ESSF), a Brighton, New York nonprofit organization whose aim to revive the popular Olympic-style summer sports event fueled hope among amateur athletes and media attention across the state, official announced its intention to disband. According to the official papers that were made public, filed in New York State Supreme Court, show that the foundation is insolvent, owing debts topping $158,000 to multiple creditors. == Regions ==

New York State is divided into six regions for the Empire State Games, and each region fields its own athletic teams through tryouts before the games begin. • Adirondack Region • Counties: Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Montgomery, Saratoga, Schoharie, Schenectady, St. Lawrence, Rensselaer, Warren, Washington • Cities: Albany, Glens Falls, Plattsburgh, Schenectady, Troy • Uniform color: gold and blue • Central Region • Counties: Broome, Cayuga, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, Otsego, Schuyler, Tioga, Tompkins • Cities: Binghamton, Elmira, Ithaca, Oswego, Rome, Syracuse, Utica • Uniform color: light blue and navy blue • Hudson Valley Region • Counties: Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, Westchester • Cities:Yonkers, Mount Vernon, Middletown, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, White Plains, New Rochelle • Uniform colors: kelly green and gold • Long Island Region • Counties: Nassau, Suffolk • Uniform colors: gray and red • New York City Region • Counties: Bronx, Kings (Brooklyn), New York (Manhattan), Queens, Richmond (Staten Island) • City: New York City • Uniform color: orange and royal blue • Western Region • Counties: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming, Yates • Cities: Buffalo, Corning, Niagara Falls, Rochester • Uniform color (1978-1994): maroon and white • Uniform color (1995-1996): navy blue and light blue • Uniform color (1996-2010): navy blue and red == Summer Games ==

There are three divisions in the Summer Empire State Games: open, scholastic, and masters. The scholastic division is for New York State residents who are 17 or younger as of August 31 of the year of the games. Some scholastic division sports have a minimum age of 13 years. The open division is for New York State residents who are 18 years of age or older as of August 31 of the year of the games. The masters division consists of 11 different sports and their age qualifications vary by sport. Athletic events Open and scholastic divisions Open and scholastic events: • Archery • Basketball • Diving • Fencing • Gymnastics • Rowing • Shooting • Soccer • Swimming • Track and field • Volleyball • Wrestling • Water Polo • Team Handball Open only: • Boxing • Bowling • Cycling • Canoeing • Kayaking • Sailing • Judo • Softball • Weightlifting • Synchronized swimming Scholastic only: • Baseball • Field hockey • Ice hockey • Lacrosse • Tennis Masters division The Masters division competes separately from the open and scholastic divisions, but has many of the same events. • Archery • Bowling • Canoeing • Cycling • Diving • Fencing • Golf • Gymnastics • Rugby • Swimming • Volleyball Host sites Syracuse played host to the first seven of the games, and in total has hosted the Empire State Games 12 times. Other cities hosting multiple times include Buffalo (5 times), Albany, Binghamton and Rochester (3 times each) and Ithaca (2 times). The Central region hosted 15 of the games, followed by Western with eight and the Adirondack region with three. In 2005, the Hudson Valley, which hosted the games twice, became the last region to host the event for the first time. Long Island hosted the games once, in 1999, and New York City never hosted. Notes == Winter Games ==

The Empire State Winter Games are held annually in Lake Placid in the month of February. Most of the events take place at the venues of the 1980 Winter Olympics. Events • Alpine skiing • Snowboarding • Ski cross • Boardercross • Biathlon • Bobsled • Cross-country skiing • Curling • Figure skating • Ice hockey (women only) • Luge • Short track speed skating • Skeleton • Ski jumping • Ski orienteering • Snowshoe racing • Speed skating == Games for the Physically Challenged ==

The Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged is open to athletes between the ages of 5 and 21 in the following divisions: visually impaired, blind, hearing impaired, deaf, spinal cord injury, amputee, cerebral palsy, and les autres (which includes conditions such as muscular dystrophy, dwarfism, and arthritis, among others). Events • Adapted Games • Archery • Slalom obstacle course • Swimming • Table tennis • Track and field • Wheelchair racing • Wheelchair basketball == Senior Games ==

The Empire State Senior Games is an organized sports competition and leisure program for those age 50 and older which: Provides recreational opportunities. Encourages fitness as a lifelong activity. Promotes the positive image of seniors. Combines sports and games with fitness, fun and fellowship. Advocates true competition in its purest form. Events • Archery • Badminton • Basketball • Bridge • Cycling • Disc golf • Golf - Long course (par 71) • Golf - Short course (par 54) • Horseshoes • Orienteering • Pickleball • Ping Pong (Table Tennis) • Race Walk (5K) • Racquetball • Road Race (5K) • Road Race (10K) • Shuffleboard • Softball • Swimming • Tennis • Track and field • Triathlon • Volleyball == Notable athletes ==

Alpine skiing • Diann Roffe, Western Athletics • Derrick Adkins, Long Island • Dick Buerkle, Western • George Buckheit, Hudson Valley • Diane Dixon, New York City • Sean Farrell, Long Island • Paul Lankford, Long Island • Jennifer Rhines, Central • Teresa Vaill, Hudson Valley Baseball Basketball Biathlon • Curt Schreiner, Adirondack Boxing • Michael Bentt, New York City • Buddy McGirt, Long Island • Joe Mesi, Western • Charles Murray, Western • Mike Tyson, New York City • Hasim Rahman Canoeing • Curt Schreiner, Adirondack Cross-country skiing • Curt Schreiner, Adirondack • George Hincapie, Long Island Fencing • Cliff Bayer, New York City • Felicia Zimmermann, Western • Jill Reeve, Adirondack • Jason Morris, Adirondack • Jon Hess, Hudson Valley • Pat McCabe, Long Island • Mark Millon, Long Island • Kenny Nims, Central • Stephen Peyser, Long Island • Todd Sauerbrun, Long Island • Peter Trombino, Long Island • John Zulberti, Central • Tom Murray, Western • Kyle Winter, Hudson Valley Shooting • Jason Turner, Western Skeleton • Jimmy Shea, Adirondack • Gary Wozniak, Los Gatos, CA Soccer • Dario Brose, Hudson Valley • Gary Flood, Long Island • Eddie Hawkins, Hudson Valley • Godwin Iwelumo, Central • Danny Kelly, Hudson Valley • Abby Wambach, Western • John Wolyniec, New York City Swimming • Kim Black, Central • Kara Lynn Joyce, Western • John Witchel, New York City • Frank Famiano, Adirondack • Jason Gleasman, Central • Tim Green, Central • Gene Mills, Central == References ==