The rich heritage and pageantry of amateur sports was on full display Thursday night during the Opening Ceremony of the Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games on the iconic "Miracle on Ice" rink made famous during the 1980 Winter Olympics.

Governor of New York Ms Kathy Hochul officially opened the Lake Placid 2023 FISU Games, together with FISU Acting President Mr Leonz Eder and Chair of the Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games' Organising Committee Mr James B. McKenna.



The ceremony included marchpass of the participants, greetings from the Oneida Indian Nation and Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, elegant on-ice performances, athletes' and officials' oaths, and the lighting of a one-of-a-kind flameless cauldron.



The event is welcoming over 1400 student athletes from more than 540 universities and 46 countries, who gathered to celebrate the biennial multi-sports winter event.



Within the official dates of the Lake Placid 2023 FISU Games (January 12-22), competitions in 12 sports and 85 events will be featured in venues throughout New York State’s north country region: Lake Placid, Wilmington, Saranac Lake, Potsdam, Canton and North Creek. The competitions will be broadcast on ESPN, as well as on FISU.tv platform. Alongside the sports part, the Lake Placid 2023 FISU World Conference "Save Winter" will also be organised, discussing climate change, winter sport sand sustainability.



The 2023 FISU World University Games will conclude on the evening of January 22 with a Closing Ceremony and the extinguishing of the cauldron, after the men’s ice hockey finals.



For more information about the 2023 winter edition of the FISU Games, please see www.lakeplacid2023.com and www.fisu.net.