Last year, the opening ceremony was held on Mirror Lake.

The event welcomed the more than 2,000 winter athletes who will compete over the next three days in more than 20 sports.

The opening ceremony featured appearances from Olympians Andrew Weibrecht, an Alpine skier from Lake Placid and a two-time Olympic medalist; 1998 silver medalist in doubles luge Gordy Sheer; and 2002 luge Olympian Ashley Walden of Lake Placid, the CEO of the state Olympic Regional Development Authority.

The ceremony celebrated the 44-year history of the ESWG with its theme of “Then and Now.” A video highlighted the growth of the games and recognized the commitment and dedication of the participating athletes over the years.

Alpine skiers walks onto the ice during the Empire State Winter Games opening ceremony on Thursday in Lake Placid. (Enterprise photo — Parker O'Brien)

Walden reflected upon her time competing in the games, as a luge athlete and how she’s looking forward to her daughter participating this weekend in girl’s ice hockey.

“As a former luge athlete, many years ago, I stood where you are today filled with excitement over the upcoming competitions. It’s a privilege to now stand here and witness a new generation of athletes embracing the same spirit,” she said. “Additionally, this year holds a special significance for me, as my daughter competes in her first Empire State Winter Games.”

Sheer and Weibrecht carried the torches into the arena and presented them to 2023 ESWG Athlete of the Year Emily Warren and Colton LaPlant, beginning the cauldron lighting.

LaPlant, a squirt-level hockey player from Malone, took the torch from Weibrecht and officially opened the games. He, with the help of Weibrecht, lit the in-door Cauldron. Simultaneously, Warren, a Canandaigua figure skater, took the flameless torch from Sheer and ignited the carbon-free Cauldron outside the Olympic Center.

The torch relay kicked off Jan. 28 from two locations, Poughkeepsie and Buffalo. The two relays wound their way north and east, through 30 cities and towns, covering 700 miles across before coming together in Lake Placid. The relay was in Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake on Thursday before arriving in Lake Placid.

Saugerties Fillies girls hockey players chant while walking onto the ice during the Empire State Winter Games opening ceremony in Lake Placid on Thursday. (Enterprise photo — Parker O'Brien)

Junior luge athlete Elin Weaver, from Indianapolis, Indiana, gave the Athletes’ Oath, while figure skating judges, Martha Rasmussen of Rochester, and Richie VanVliet of Buffalo gave the Officials’ Oath. Members of the Hudson Mohawk Figure Skating Club and hockey players from the Sara-Placid Lakers performed for the audience, while the Saranac Lake High School Vocal Ensemble, directed by Drew Benware, sang the National Anthem.

The Empire State Winter Games continue through Sunday with competitions in Lake Placid, Wilmington, Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake and Paul Smiths. Events include adaptive sports (Alpine skiing, sled hockey, bobsled and biathlon) to Alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, speed skating, short track speedskating, figure skating, sliding sports (bobsled, luge and skeleton), snowshoeing, ski and snowboard cross, winter biking, winter triathlon, ski orienteering, ice hockey and cross-country skiing.

Massena River Queens girls hockey players walk out onto the ice during the Empire State Winter Games opening ceremony on Thursday in Lake Placid. (Enterprise photo — Parker O'Brien)

Saranac Lake High School students sing the national anthem during the Empire State Winter Games opening ceremony. (Enterprise photo — Parker O'Brien)

Local Olympians Gordy Sheer, left, and Andrew Weibrecht carry the Empire State Winter Games torches during the opening ceremony on Thursday. (Enterprise photo — Parker O'Brien)

Connor, a Sara-Placid Lakers youth hockey player, skates on the ice during the Empire State Winter Games opening ceremony on Thursday. (Enterprise photo — Parker O'Brien)