Research


Administrative History

Formerly a program of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Empire State Games are conducted as a series of annual Olympic-style competitions for amateur athletes from all over New York State. The Games are held in both summer and winter, and include two additional series for physically challenged and senior competitor classes.

In 2009 and 2011, the Empire State Summer Games were cancelled due to a lack of funding from the State of New York. The 2012 Winter Games, Summer Games, and Games for the Physically Challenged were held due to private donations and community fundraisers. The Empire State Sports Foundation was created in 2012 in order to raise money for the Summer Games. Since its establishment in 1978, the Summer Games, in particular, have expanded to become one of the largest and most extensive amateur state-sponsored athletic programs in the nation.