Westchester nets 2007 Empire State Games

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Westchester nets 2007 Empire State Games

By JONATHAN BANDLER

jbandler@thejournalnews.com

THE JOURNAL NEWS

(Original publication: January 2, 2006)

WHITE PLAINS — Westchester will host the Empire State Games in 2007, the first time the nation's largest amateur sporting event is coming to the county.

County officials said today they learned of the selection from state officials. There was no immediate confirmation from Gov. George Pataki's press office.

"I'm really happy they approved our application," Spano said. "It's going to mean a lot for Westchester County, not only because of the great sporting events but also for our economy with all the people it brings here."

The 2007 event is scheduled for July 24-29 and will be the 30th annual Empire State Games. Westchester was selected over Long Island, which hosted the 1999 games, and Plattsburgh, which also had never hosted the event. The Games were played in the Hudson Valley for the first time this past summer when Poughkeepsie was the host.

The Games feature more than 5,000 athletes on teams from six regions of the state: Hudson Valley, Long Island, New York City, Adirondacks, Central New York and Western New York.

There are more than 20 sports with competition divided into men's, women's and scholastic divisions.