WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Bay State Games are set to host the 36th annual Winter Games in the Berkshires in 2023, the first since early 2020. 

 

Since the breakout of COVID-19, Bay State Games has not been able to hold Winter Games in the Berkshires after celebrating 35 years in the Berkshires weeks before the pandemic began.

 

The 2023 Figure Skating competition will take place Jan. 14 and 15, 2023 at Williams College in Williamstown. This competition will feature more than 400 skaters from Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. 

 

Skaters ranging in age from 5 to over 65 represent the United State Figure Skating Association or the International Skating Institute. 

 

Highlights for this upcoming competition include the Bay State Skate Show on Saturday, Jan. 15 featuring gold medalists from certain events in the competition. This event will also serve as a qualifier for the 2024 State Games of America to be held in San Diego, Calif. All medal winners will receive an invitation to compete at the 2024 State Games of America.

 

"Bay State Games athletes, coaches, judges, and spectators have been waiting with great anticipation for the time we could bring our figure skating event back to the Berkshires after a three-year absence due to COVID related restrictions," said Kevin Cummings, Bay State Games Executive Director. "Hosting the Bay State Winter Games in the Berkshires has been a significant factor in the popularity of the event for our participants. We are excited to return to the region which has hosted the Winter Games since 1985."

 

Bay State Games plans on hosting two figure skating competitions in 2023, one in the traditional Winter Games and one in the Summer Games. Figure skating has been held in the Summer Games for the past two summers due to COVID-19. Another figure skating competition is being planned for June with different events for skaters to compete in.

 

Registration for figure skating is now open. Links to registration and competition announcements can be found at https://www.baystategames.org/figure-skating-winter