Photo courtesy Adirondack Sports Council

Following the ceremonial lighting earlier in the week in Torino, Italy, the battery-powered LED torch of the Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games made its way across the Atlantic Ocean to New York City’s Pier 45 to start its journey around New York State. The delegation returning the torch from Photo courtesy Adirondack Sports CouncilTorino included members from the Adirondack Sports Council (ADKSC), State of New York, Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA), and the Village of Lake Placid.

This sustainable, symbolic flame helps reduce the carbon footprint of the FISU Games by moving away from traditional oil or gas flames to a battery powered version. For the first time no actual combustion or flame is present with LED lights instead producing a brightly illuminated FISU Flame in a carbon-free presentation. This torch will now be at the heart of a twelve city torch relay around New York State in the lead up to the opening ceremonies of the Lake Placid 2023 FISU Games on 12 January 2023.

“The city of Turin and Lake Placid may not be similar in size or industry yet they share a special bond as they have each played host to Olympic Games and University Games,” said Ashley Walden, executive director of the ADKSC, the Lake Placid 2023 FISU Games Organising Committee. “It was an honour to ignite the FISU Flame in this historic city and return it once again to Lake Placid.”

New York’s Adirondack region, including Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Wilmington, North Creek, Canton, and Potsdam will play host to competition in 12 winter sports and 86 medal events. Events, including educational ones, will take place 12-22 January 2023 featuring 2,500 student-athletes and delegates representing 50 countries and 600 universities.

Written by Doug McLean

(With files from Jon Lundin, Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games Head of Communications & Media)