Calling All Beleaguered NHL Fans: Satisfy Your Hockey Withdrawal By Re-Living the 'Miracle on Ice'

Calling All Beleaguered NHL Fans: Satisfy Your Hockey Withdrawal By Re-Living the 'Miracle on Ice'

Jim Craig Kicks Off 25th Anniversary of the Lake Placid Olympic Games

Special 'Winter Passport' Offers Deals at Olympic Venues

LAKE PLACID, N.Y., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- If the NHL lock-out has left you cold this winter, relive happier hockey days at Lake Placid's 25th anniversary celebration of its 1980 Winter Olympic Games. Who can forget the underdog USA hockey team defeating the "unbeatable" Soviet Union and going on to win the gold? Known as the "Miracle on Ice," the victory is still considered one of the greatest moments in sports history.

As part of Lake Placid's celebration, special activities are planned Feb. 11-27, including a ceremony on Feb. 22nd to commemorate the "Miracle on Ice." On Feb. 12th, Jim Craig, goalie for the 1980 USA hockey team, kicks off the festivities by lighting the torch on the grounds of the Lake Placid Olympic Stadium.

Additional activities and special promotions include:

Save with Kodak Winter Passport: Take advantage of a special 25th anniversary edition "Kodak Winter Passport" with special deals at Lake Placid's many Olympic and winter sports venues. Available thru mid-March, the winter passport costs $25 and includes:

* FREE admission to the 1932 and 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Museum;
the MacKenzie-Intervale Ski Jumping Complex; and the Verizon Sports
Complex's Sliding Tracks Facility.
* A FREE gondola ride at Whiteface Mountain
* FREE ice skating at the Sheffield Speed Skating Oval
* Discounts - worth up to $80 in savings - for bobsled rides; luge-rocket
rides; "Discover Cross Country" ski packages; "Learn to ski" passes;
Kids Kampus full day lesson programs and more.



The passport can be purchased at any venue ticket sales point or at the Olympic Regional Development Authority store on Main Street in Lake Placid. For more information, visit http://www.orda.org/wintpassport.php or call 518-523-1655.

Learn What It's Like to Be an Olympian: During the month of February, experience what it was like to be an Olympic athlete in 1980 with a series of special activities designed for the whole family to enjoy:

* Speed Skating Lessons: On Feb. 20, learn the basics of speed skating
from professional coaches and try racing at the Olympic Oval where Eric
Heiden took home an unprecedented five gold medals at the 1980 Olympic
Games. Olympic-style time trials run from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Speed skate
rentals are free.

* Bobsledding: East Germany's four-man bobsled team broke the
mile-per-minute barrier during the 1980 Olympics. To celebrate, the
Verizon Sports Complex's Bobsled Track & Lamy Lodge will host a "Mile a
Minute" party on Feb. 21. Experience the thrill of bobsledding and enter
your own timed race. Get special discounts with the Kodak Winter
Passport.

* Gala Celebration and Ice Show: On Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m., the Olympic
Center will host a gala celebration and ice show, featuring USA hockey
team member Mike Eruzione and skating champion Scott Hamilton.
Twenty-five years after an injury dashed their chances for an Olympic
championship, pair skaters Randy Gardner and Tai Babilonia will finally
perform in Lake Placid. They will be joined by Linda Fratianne, Peter
and Kitty Carruthers, Robin Cousins and Josef Sabovcik. Tickets go on
sale on Feb. 4. Admission is $25. To purchase tickets, call the Olympic
Center Box Office at 518-523-3330.



For more information about the 25th anniversary celebration of the 1980 Winter Olympic Games, call 518-523-1655 or visit http://www.orda.org/.

ABOUT I LOVE NEW YORK

I LOVE NEW YORK is a campaign administered by Empire State Development, Charles A. Gargano, Chairman, through the New York State Division of Tourism. First launched in 1977, I LOVE NEW YORK remains one of the most successful international tourism campaigns ever created and continues to promote the beauty and attractions of New York State's eleven geographic regions: Adirondacks, Capital-Saratoga, Catskills, Central Leatherstocking, Chautauqua-Alleghany, Finger Lakes, Greater Niagara, Hudson Valley, Long Island, New York City and Thousand Islands Seaway.

With 168 state parks, 35 state historic sites, major metropolitan centers and quaint small towns, New York State offers exciting year-round travel possibilities for visitors of all ages. To learn more, including details on upcoming events and lodging, dial (800) CALL-NYS or visit the I LOVE NEW YORK Web site at http://www.iloveny.com/.


Source: I LOVE NEW YORK

CONTACT: Jill S. Hommel of NYS Department of Economic Development,
+1-518-292-5368, jhommel@empire.state.ny.us; or Sarah E. Bilofsky of Eric
Mower and Associates, +1-518-449-3000, sbilofsky@eric.mower.com, both for I
LOVE NEW YORK

Web site: http://www.iloveny.com/
http://www.orda.org/


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