World University Games torch relay visits SUNY Adk

The torch is on its way to Lake Placid.

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The ceremonial torch of the FISU Winter World University Games came to the campus of SUNY Adirondack on its way to Lake Placid and the opening ceremony of the games that start tomorrow. The 22-inch-long torch was created and built by Adirondack Studios of Argyle, N.Y., the same studio that built the award podiums for the 1980 Olympic Winter Games and is the first torch of these games that uses LED lighting instead of a carbon-burning flame. 

Officials with the games’ have made “Save Winter” and sustainability a major theme. Along with the games that are drawing more than 1,400 athletes from 46 countries to compete, there are symposia on global warming set for this month.

“We are all at risk of losing the season we love,” said an official with the FISU games.

The custom-made torch consists of elongated steel encasing a glacial-blue body, representing an artistic interpretation of ice and water. Four SUNY Adirondack student-athletes ran the torch onto campus.

They were Lorezo Lombardo, baseball; Antowan Holmes, basketball; Kristen Paravella, soccer; and Matthew Brandes, baseball and soccer. With them ran Casey Jobe, the head baseball coach and assistant director of college access.

“We are so proud to be one of the first stops on the torch relay,” said SUNY Adirondack President Kristine Duffy, adding that two students from the college would be working in production of the games, live streaming the games on the TV network ESPN+ and in production at Gore Mountain, where snowboard events are being held.

Before the speech she said how thrilled she was to have so many students turn out for the event, about 100 people total turned out, many of them students, and many wearing the same Moose antlers as Duffy. Adirondack Mac, a moose, is the mascot of the games.

The games’ reach into Warren County includes not only the events at Gore Mountain, but the expected arrival of players and family into short-term rental homes throughout the area.

Warren County recently approved a $125,000 expenditure to have the Warren County Tourism logo added to racing bibs and to be included in ESPN coverage.

[Read our coverage of the games here.]

The games will be played throughout the Adirondacks, though they are focused in Lake Placid.