After the opening ceremonies for the Special Olympics Winter Games on Feb. 28, up to 1,700 athletes from the state of Washington will be competing in six athletic events across the Wenatchee Valley.

Wenatchee has been hosting the Winter Games for 24 years. Alpine skiing and snowboarding will be held at Mission Ridge, figure skating and speed skating at the Town Toyota Center, basketball in the gyms of the Eastmont School District, and nordic skiing will take place at the Leavenworth Winter Sports Club.

In order to compete in Wenatchee at the state level, athletes were required to win a regional level before advancing.

The Winter Olympics are organized by group of about 30 volunteers, according to Deputy Director of the Olympic Games Caryl Morrell. From there, about 500 people volunteer to help implement the games.

“It is really such an amazing thing to be involved in,” Morrell said. “I have been helping since I was 16 years old and haven’t stopped since then. It’s the kind of thing that you know you’ll just always want to be a part of.”

In order to run the Winter Games, Special Olympics Washington collects corporate and private donations. The biggest contributor is Boeing, making cash donations as well as products and items necessary to run the event. All athletes have all expenses covered, including hotel rooms and entry in their events.

Morrell encourages members of the community to attend the Opening Ceremonies at 8 p.m. on Feb. 28 at the Town Toyota Center, as well as any of the events put on up until March 2. All events are free to attend.

“We love when people come to watch,” Morrell said. “Not only the volunteers who help put this event on, but the athletes absolutely love to see people coming to support them.”

Look for a story about a Wenatchee High School athlete competing in the Special Olympics this weekend. The story runs in The Apple Leaf on March 5.