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As the 2005 Empire State Games get underway today in Poughkeepsie, County Executive Andy Spano renewed his call to Governor George Pataki to award the 2007 Empire State Games to Westchester County. This past fall, Westchester County prepared and sent a comprehensive proposal to the state in an effort to be selected to host the 2007 Empire State Games, a multi-sport competitive event for New York amateur athletes patterned after the Olympics. The games’ committee visited the county during the winter and indicated that Westchester had the facilities and transportation needed to host the games. “We
have known that we are the ideal location for the games since we
submitted our proposal. Governor Pataki, it is time for you to award the
2007 games to Westchester,” Spano said. “We have the fields and
facilities, the housing, the transportation system, the parks and
tourist attractions to host the athletes and their families.”
When preparing the proposal last fall, the county formed a local organizing committee of leaders from the business, education and recreation communities in anticipation of the games being awarded to Westchester. Twenty-two local governments in Westchester, the Westchester County Board of Legislators, eight school districts and the Westchester Business Council have all passed resolutions in favor of Westchester hosting the games. In addition, the county called upon residents and local organizations to contact the state through e-mail postcards and letters of support; a total of 1,173 messages were sent to the state via e-mail alone. Noting that this is the first time Westchester County has submitted a proposal for the games, Spano explained that future games are traditionally awarded by the week of the current games which begin today. Long Island (Nassau County) and Plattsburgh have also submitted proposals for the 2007 games. The
games would take place July 24-29, 2007 and would draw 6,000 athletes,
their families, friends and coaches to the host region. Spano noted that
bringing several thousand tourists to the area in summer would boost the
county’s economy, with added business for restaurants, hotels, retail
stores and entertainment and recreational venues. Funding for the games, a program of the New York State’s Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, would come from the state, with additional private fundraising support here in Westchester. If Westchester is selected as host, most of the activity would take place at the campuses of five colleges: Manhattanville and SUNY Purchase, both in Harrison; Pace University (Pleasantville and Briarcliff); and the College of New Rochelle and Iona College, both in New Rochelle. In all, 29 distinct sports, from archery to volleyball would take place in 21 venues, including all five college campuses, along with Westchester Community College, Mount Vernon and New Rochelle high schools, the Westchester County Center in White Plains, the ice rinks at Playland Ice Casino in Rye and Hommocks Park in Mamaroneck, and other cooperating public and private venues. Athletes would be housed in the dorms, with many sporting events taking place within each campus. Shuttle bus transportation would be arranged to carry them to offsite venues. The proposal also outlined the ease of shuttle transportation between housing and venues for athletes, the convenience of Westchester’s many hotels and the extraordinary public transportation for athletes’ families and spectators who come from out of town. |
