At a press conference today at Pace University's Pleasantville campus, County Board Chair Bill Ryan and County Executive Andy Spano kicked off the 40-day countdown to the start of the 2007 Empire State Games which begin on July 25. This is the first time in the event's 30-year history that Westchester County is hosting the Games. More than 6,000 athletes and 15,000 spectators are expected to descend on the countyfor the 5-day competition.

"The Empire State Games are one of the greatest amateur athletic competitions in the country," said County Board Chair Bill Ryan. "The games will bring New York's premier athletes to New York's premier county. There'll be thousands of spectators and we'll have five days to acquaint them with why we're so proud to call Westchester our home."