LAKE PLACID, N.Y., Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Olympic athletes competing in
eight different winter sports at a previous Olympic site is what the 17th-
annual Empire State winter games has to offer this weekend.  Practice has
already begun for some of the competition in Lake Placid, and the first
competition will take place Friday.
    The nation's premier amateur sporting competition will feature 1,200
athletes competing in such events as bobsledding, cross country skiing, figure
skating, luge, Nordic sprint (snowshoeing), alpine skiing, biathlon and
skeleton.  30 Empire State Games competitors were on the 1994 US Olympic Team
in Lillehammer, Norway, including Alpine Skiing gold medalist Diann Roffe-
Steinrotter from nearby Potsdam.
    For most sports, athletes compete in three divisions; competitors at the
high school level compete primarily in the scholastic division, the open
division consists of mainly college-aged athletes; and there's a masters
division.  To all the athletes, young or old , the Empire State Games event
takes on its own meaning.
    "It's the most fun event to compete in," says 16-year old Kimberly
Wailand, who has been competing in figure skating since she was eight and has
been a participant at the ESG since 1991.  "They break down the judging.
There's a 'jump' judge, a 'spin' judge and an 'artistic' judge.  The Empire
State Games is the only competition that does this," adds the West Seneca
native.  Wailand's sister, Karen, won the bronze in last year's junior ladies
figure skating final.
    James Underwood is a 43-year old masters competitor who won the gold medal
in last year's masters cross country classic.  "The winter games are a nice
way to end the season," says Underwood, who resides in Queensbury, NY.  "It's
a nice way to see some of the old faces."  Underwood has been competing in
cross country since 1968 and was the New York State high school cross country
champ in 1971.
    People familiar with the 1980 Olympics will be familiar with the various
locations throughout the Lake Placid area where this year's ESG will be held.
Luge, biathlon, bobsled and skeleton are at Mt. Van Hoevenberg; Alpine skiing
is being held at Whiteface Mountain, and figure skating will be at the Olympic
Arena.  All events are free and open to the public.  Alpine Skiing will have a
training session Thursday morning at 10:00 a.m.
    There will be more than just sports competition in Lake Placid during the
weekend.  Following Friday evening's opening ceremonies will be a winter
festival on Mirror Lake.  Athletes and spectators alike will see the lake
transformed into a winter carnival, which will include a fireworks show, free
family activities, live entertainment, music and more.  On Saturday, the New
York Lottery will be holding its 30th birthday party and there will be a
drawing for $60,000 dollars in prizes.  "The Games serve New York's young
people by providing education through athletics, teaching them dedication,
motivation and aspiration to achieve their goals," says Jeff Perlee, director
of the Lottery.
    The New York Lottery is the primary sponsor of the 1997 Empire State
Winter Games.  The New York Lottery is an important part of funding education
in communities throughout the State.

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