Photo courtesy of LakePlacid.com
Pull on those snow boots and zip up your parka! Lake Placid, New York, is hosting the 8th International Children’s Winter Games from January 6–11, 2019. Lake Placid will be the first United States city to host the International Children’s Winter Games, but the city knows winter. It has twice played host to the Olympic Winter Games: in 1932 and in 1980. Lake Placid has a long history of international sports competition and currently hosts many international events each year.
The ICG is dedicated to pursue the common goal of forming nation-linking friendships through the exercising of sports and the arranging of sports competitions. The goal of the International Children’s Games is to enable, develop and advance the meeting, understanding and friendship of students from different countries, and to advance the Olympic ideals. The International Children’s Games are comprised of teams from cities from around the world, not by country. There will be multiple teams from some countries.
Photo courtesy of LakePlacid.com
The public is invited to watch all of the sporting events at the International Children’s Winter Games. Youth between the ages of 12 and 15 will be competing in Alpine and Freestyle skiing, hockey, biathlon, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, figure skating and speed skating. Spectators can watch for free with the exception of the entrance to Whiteface Mountain, where spectators must purchase a lift ticket to watch the downhill events.
The International Children’s Winter Games kick off with the opening ceremony on January 7 at 7:00 pm. Expect a student parade, music and contemporary circus THROW2CATCH from Montreal. The opening ceremony is free and open to the public.
In addition to the sporting competition, Lake Placid will offer cultural exchange events, entertainment programs and more, all with the aim of helping create lasting friendships and memories.
Find more family winter vacation inspiration here.
Photo courtesy of LakePlacid.com