Press Releases

University at Buffalo President John Simpson and Erie Community College President Jack Quinn Named Honorary Chairs for the 2010 Empire State Games

Official 2010 Empire State Games Buffalo logo unveiled

Empire State Games logo BUFFALO, NY, March 5, 2009 –With 15 months to go until the 2010 Empire State Games arrive in Buffalo, the event’s local organizing committee, chaired by former ECC Athletic Director Ralph Galanti, has announced that University at Buffalo President John Simpson and Erie Community College President Jack Quinn will serve as honorary co-chairs to the event. In their roles, Simpson and Quinn will serve in a community relations capacity to ensure that the Games are a major success for the region.

Buffalo will host the Empire State Games from July 21 – 25, 2010. The Games will bring over 6,000 athletes and fans to Buffalo, creating an economic impact of $3.85 million. The games will utilize numerous athletics venues throughout Erie County and Niagara University. The 2010 event will mark the fifth time that Buffalo has hosted the Empire State Games (1985, 1986, 1996 and 2003).

“The University at Buffalo is not only proud to host some of the Empire State Games competitions, but serve as a catalyst in ensuring these games are a huge success for our community,” said John Simpson, President University at Buffalo. “We look at this as an excellent opportunity to showcase our university and city to over 6,000 athletes and families. At the same time, this event will bring in significant tourism dollars for Buffalo and the surrounding area.”

“The ECC community looks forward to opening its doors to the athletes, families, and spectators attending the 2010 Empire State Games,” said Jack Quinn, President Erie Community College. “We have put together a great team to plan the Games, along with President John Simpson of UB as honorary co-chair and our former Athletic Director Ralph Galanti at the helm of the Local Organizing Committee. Together, we will create a sporting event that will make Western New York very proud.”

In addition to the honorary co-chair announcement, the local organizing committee also unveiled the official logo for the 2010 Empire States Games. The blue and gold logo features a torch, with an image of a Buffalo serving as a flame.

The local organizing committee consists of representatives from the Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau, local colleges and universities, and recreational organizations. The committee submitted a bid to host the games and was eventually awarded the honor in May 2008.

“I am truly honored to be chosen as the 2010 Empire State Games Local Organizing Committee Chairman. The year 2010 will be an exciting year for Buffalo and Western New York with many amateur athletic events coming to our area, and none bigger than the Empire State Games,” said Ralph Galanti, chairperson of the local organizing committee. “With our two distinguished honorary chairpersons President John Simpson of UB and President Jack Quinn of ECC, along with the excellent members of the local organizing committee and CVB, I promise the 2010 Empire State Games will be entertaining and successful.”

The Empire State Games is a program of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, is a member of the National Congress of State Games, and is recognized by the United States Olympic Committee. Each year, more than 30,000 men and women, young and old, try out in the spring for a chance to represent their region as a finalist at the Summer Games in scholastic, open or masters divisions. Through the years many Empire State Games alumni have moved onto national, international and Olympic competition.

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Media Contacts:

Ed Healy
Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau
716-852-0511, x236
healy@buffalocvb.org

Doug Sitler
Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau
716-852-0511, x252
sitler@buffalocvb.org