Olympic Regional Development Authority

Mission

The Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) was established in 1981 to create and administer a post-Olympic program for the facilities and venues utilized during the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Games. These facilities include: the Olympic Ice Center; the Olympic Speedskating Oval; the Whiteface Mountain Ski Area and Veterans’ Memorial Highway; the Mt. Van Hoevenberg Complex that includes bobsled and luge runs, cross-country ski trails and a biathlon range; the Olympic Ski Jumping Complex; and the U.S. Olympic Training Center. In 1984, ORDA’s responsibility expanded to include the management of the Gore Mountain Ski Center in North Creek, Warren County, and in 2012, Belleayre Mountain Ski Center in Shandaken, Ulster County.

Organization and Staffing

ORDA is headed by a Chief Executive Officer and governed by a ten-person board comprised of Executive, Legislative and local appointees.

Major Programs

The Olympic Regional Development Authority manages one of four primary sites (the others being in California, Colorado, and Utah) for year-round training of America’s Olympic athletes. As a result of recent investments in venue modernization and enhancements, various US Olympic Teams have moved their training to Lake Placid, including USA Nordic, USA Luge and USA Bobsled. In recent years, the Olympic facilities at Lake Placid have welcomed more than 850,000 visitors.

The Authority hosts numerous national and international athletic and entertainment events. Recent ORDA-hosted major events include: the 2023 FISU World University Games; the NCAA ECAC Men’s Hockey Championships; Lake Placid Freestyle Skating Championships; Lake Placid Ice Dancing Championships; Eastern Synchronized Skating Championships; World Cups in Bobsled/Skeleton and Luge; the 2022 USABS US Bobsled Push Championships, and the Miracle on Ice Fantasy Camp and several festivals and shows. More world-class sporting events, such as the 2025 FIS World Cup Ski Jumping; FIS World Cup Freestyle Aerials; and the IBSF Bobsled & Skeleton World Championships are scheduled for 2025.

The Authority also manages three ski centers, Gore, Whiteface Mountain, and Belleayre. These major downhill ski facilities received more than 1 million visitors in recent ski seasons, and over 300,000 visitors for off-season activities such as mountain biking and sightseeing tours.

Budget Highlights

The State has historically supported a portion of ORDA’s budget. The FY 2026 Executive Budget recommends $124.1 million in appropriations for ORDA, an increase of $27.5 million from FY 2025 funding levels. Funding includes $14.1 million in operating support and $110 million in capital support.

Major budget actions include:

$85 million in new capital funding to implement a strategic plan to maintain, modernize and expand ORDA’s facilities and venues.
$25 million for maintenance of Olympic and Ski facilities.

ALL FUNDS
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Category	Available FY 2025	Appropriations Recommended FY 2026	Change From FY 2025	Reappropriations Recommended FY 2026
State Operations	14,090,000	14,090,000	0	0
Capital Projects	82,500,000	110,000,000	27,500,000	154,413,000
Total	96,590,000	124,090,000	27,500,000	154,413,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type	Available FY 2025	Recommended FY 2026
General Fund	13,940,000	13,940,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other	150,000	150,000
Total	14,090,000	14,090,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program	Available FY 2025	Recommended FY 2026	Change
Olympic Facilities Operations
General Fund	13,940,000	13,940,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	150,000	150,000	0
Total	14,090,000	14,090,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service Regular (Annual Salaried)
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Olympic Facilities Operations	7,125,000	0	7,125,000	0
Total	7,125,000	0	7,125,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Supplies and Materials
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Olympic Facilities Operations	6,815,000	0	2,788,000	0
Total	6,815,000	0	2,788,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Contractual Services
Program	Amount	Change
Olympic Facilities Operations	2,540,000	0
Total	2,540,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	General State Charges
Program	Amount	Change
Olympic Facilities Operations	1,487,000	0
Total	1,487,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Olympic Facilities Operations	150,000	0	65,000	0
Total	150,000	0	65,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Nonpersonal Service
Program	Amount	Change
Olympic Facilities Operations	85,000	0
Total	85,000	0

CAPITAL PROJECTS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Comprehensive Construction Program	Available FY 2025	Recommended FY 2026	Change	Reappropriations FY 2026
Maintenance and Improvements of Existing Facilities
Capital Projects Fund - Authority Bonds	82,500,000	110,000,000	27,500,000	154,413,000
Total	82,500,000	110,000,000	27,500,000	154,413,000

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/21/2025

^Top