(July, 2010) - It's the 31st edition of the Empire State Games, and there is great excitement after a one year hiatus, as the games return, this year, in Buffalo. Six thousand athletes from the six regions will compete in the olympic style games.

The games began in mid-August in 1978 on the campus of Syracuse University. Scholastic lacrosse was introduced in 1984 with Central winning the first gold medals. In the twenty-five tournaments since the games began, Long Island has been the expected winner, having taken fifteen gold medals.

The games are a program of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation.

The year-by-year winners are available here.