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Empire State Winter Games Torch Relay Starts In City

A past relay runner holds the Empire State Winter Games torch. For the first time in its 39th year, the Empire State Winter Games Torch Relay will start in Jamestown at 6 a.m. Monday. Submitted photo

The flame might not have been born in a temple erected by the ancient Greeks to honor Hera, powerful queen of the mythological gods, like the Olympic Torch Relay, but for the first time ever the Empire State Winter Games is including Jamestown in its tourch relay.

At 6 a.m. Monday, the Empire State Winter Games Torch Relay will start in the city, which is the first time Western New York has been included in the torch relay for the games held in Lake Placid, said Ryan Grady, Empire State Winter Games Torch Relay director.

“Jamestown is the start of the first ever Empire State Winter Games Torch Relay in Western New York,” he said. “We will be leaving Jamestown Monday and traveling to the Adirondack Mountains from Monday to Thursday.”

At the start of the torch relay, a special ceremony will be held in front of the National Comedy Center that will include speakers Sam Teresi, Jamestown mayor, and Empire State Winter Games officials, Grady said.

“They’re going to start at the National Comedy Center and they go down to the (Greater Jamestown) Riverwalk and they will cross the pedestrain bridge over the river and then they will be going up Route 60.”

Julia Ciesla-Hanley, city recreation coordinator, said not only will Teresi be speaking prior to the start of the torch relay, but he will also be participating in the run.

Grady said for the first time last year the Empire State Winter Games had the torch relay outside of the Adirondack area. He said the torch relay started last year in New York City.

“It did so well, we added southern Western New York to the route this year,” he said.

The torch will head to Gowanda following Jamestown with the relay starting Tuesday at Canalside in Buffalo. Then on Wednesday the relay will start in the Bristol Mountains near Rochester and Thursday the final leg will start at the State University at Canton near the Adirondacks.

“We are thrilled to welcome the city of Jamestown to torch relay,” Grady said. “So far it has been great dealing with (city officials). We can’t wait to get down there and kickoff the event.”

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