About the Physically Challenged Games
From state programme to Camp Smile and SUNY Brockport — how the Games survived.
The Games for the Physically Challenged began in 1985 as part of New York’s pioneering free adapted youth sports programme — the first state-funded effort of its kind in the United States. From the start the event was rooted in the SUNY system, with The College at Brockport serving as the principal host and several other SUNY campuses contributing facilities and volunteers.
The state-funded era
Through the late 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s the Games grew steadily under the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, supported by the State Education Department’s adapted-physical-education staff and a volunteer corps drawn from college physical-education programmes statewide.
Camp Smile (2010 onward)
The 2009–2010 state budget cuts that ended the Summer Games also ended state funding for the Games for the Physically Challenged. Camp Smile, Inc. — a non-profit running summer programmes for children with disabilities — expanded its remit to take on the operation of the Games, in partnership with The College at Brockport. The event has been held every October since.
Today
The Games today are directed by Susan Maxwell and supported by Camp Smile, SUNY Brockport’s adapted-physical-education and recreation departments, the Webster Lions Club, and a network of service organisations across central and western New York. They celebrated the 37th annual edition in 2024 and the 38th in 2025.
Organising office
For registration, volunteering, and donations:
empirestategamespc.org
See also
- Sport list
- Next edition — Oct 16–17 2026
- Empire State Games history — the broader four-format story.