WAUSAU, Wis., Jan. 30 (UPI) -- More than 4,000 athletes are expected to join in the Badger State Winter Games in Wisconsin next month, organizers just hope it's cold and there's enough snow.
Much of the Midwest had one of the warmest January's in years and that's not good for fans of events like Alpine skiing, snow boarding, ski jumping, cross-country skiing and snowshoe racing.
Opening ceremonies are Friday in Wausau, where there was about 3 inches on snow on the ground last week. Rain last year turned snow into slush forcing cancellation of some Nordic Skiing events.
"As far as trucking in snow, we don't have the money," Tim Allen, of the Wisconsin Sports Development Corp., told the Appleton (Wis.) Post-Crescent.
The Olympic-style winter sports festival began in 1989 and draws about 20,000 spectators to its 14 competitions. Events like indoor archery, bowling and billiards are not affected by the weather.
