Ending weeks of uncertainty and speculation, Special Olympics Washington announced they plan to keep the Winter Games in Wenatchee

The Board of Directors agreed in principal to a long term agreement to retain Wenatchee as the Winter Games host city. Ratification of the contract is expected when the governing board meets May 19th.

The tentative approval caps three weeks of scrambling by local business and civic leaders to help fund the games’ rising costs and fill a $30,000 hole in operating expenses for alpine competitions. At Thursday’s meeting, directors also halted plans to issue a bid proposal to find a new host city for the games. Special Olympics Washington Spokesman, Dan Wardelle said the organization is excited to remain Wenatchee and appreciates the outpouring of support the organization has received over the past few weeks.

The Special Olympics annually attracts 15-hundred athletes, their families and supporters to the Wenatchee Valley. The Games generate about 800-thousand dollars in taxable sales.