Saranac Lake Middle Schoolers Emma Wood, left, and Ruby Smith carry the Empire State Winter Games torch across the ice before handing it off for the lighting of the cauldron during the opening ceremonies in February 2016 at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

In 2010, with the state of New York facing a massive deficit and abandoning programs right and left, one of the things it dropped was the Empire State Games.

That was that for the summer version of the games, which used to travel around the state. But here in Lake Placid, which had hosted the winter games every year since they began in 1981, local leaders wouldn’t let them die.

They knew how to put these games on (mostly with the labor of dedicated local volunteers), they knew they could pay for it without state aid (registration fees, sponsors freed from state rules, municipalities and, again, volunteers would meet the need), and they knew this huge event packs the area with visiting athletes and their families — who spend money at local hotels, restaurants and shops, and who often fall in love with the Adirondacks and return in years to come.

People here didn’t need or want to scuttle this opportunity: for the athletes as well as for the local economy. Less than 48 hours after the state announced it was ending the Empire State Games, Lake Placid area leaders announced they would continue the Empire State Winter Games.

That was more than seven years ago, and they’ve done it ever since.

Various municipalities banded together with the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism, the state Olympic Regional Development Authority and other organizations. They recruited volunteers and sponsors. They spread the wealth by bringing in nearby communities such as Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake, Paul Smiths and Malone to host certain sports.

It worked, and the games have grown. They were already huge, with some 1,800 athletes under state management, but last year they drew 2,314. This year’s games are expected to draw 2,500, which would be a record, along with 5,000 friends and family members and 15,000 additional spectators.

Most of the participants are kids, and for them it almost feels like the Olympics. It’s not wrong to feel that way. Some past ESWG participants include alpine skier Andrew Weibrecht of Lake Placid, biathlete Maddie Phaneuf of Old Forge and luger Erin Hamlin of Remsen, who are all about to compete in the Winter Olympics this month in South Korea. We may well have future Olympians among this year’s Empire State crop, too.

These games aren’t perfect, of course. Some people think they’re so jam-packed with events that it’s impossible to keep up. Others say the fanfare that can unify athletes could use some improvement.

But since the state dropped the reins, organizers have been free to try new things — winter mountain biking, for example, or this year’s rail jam at Titus Mountain and ESWG Village in downtown Lake Placid. They can make changes and go with what works more easily now than when the state ran the show.

The games now take place during the Saranac Lake’s Winter Carnival and Tupper Lake’s Northern Challenge Fishing Derby. We’re not sure how this helps Tupper, which needs more hotels — two of its biggest annual events are happening at the same time. For Saranac Lake, however, it’s great: It definitely boosts the number of people visiting the Ice Palace and other Carnival attractions.

The games begin with tonight’s Opening Ceremonies, and we heartily welcome all these visitors to the Adirondacks this weekend. We also want them to know about all the local people who make this event happen year after year. They love winter sports and love kids, and want to help you take part in something really cool.