Alaska's World Winter Special Olympics.

• Author: PILKINGTON, STEVE
• Position: Brief Article

Anchorage will host the state's largest international sporting event in Alaska history this month and organizers predict the local economy, athletes and their families will see the benefits for years to come. Researchers are predicting an infusion of millions of dollars of new cash into the local economy.

Alaska's 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games will be a gathering call for nearly 3,000 athletes and coaches from 80 countries to take part in seven official winter sports with venues in Anchorage, Eagle River and Girdwood.

"It's going to be amazing," said Alison Bocking, media relations coordinator for the 7th World Winter Games. "I think people who aren't aware of Special Olympics will become aware." Team USA is expected to provide the largest delegation for the events with more than 700 people, nearly 500 of which are athletes. Canada is second with about 100 scheduled to participate and Austria, Argentina, Russia and Spain are not far behind.

Opening ceremonies for the games are scheduled at the Sullivan Arena on March 4. Closing ceremonies will be at the arena on March 11. Falling in between these events are the various sporting challenges, which include alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, floor hockey, snowboarding, snowshoeing and speed skating. The sports will be held at Alyeska Resort, Kincaid Park, the Tesoro Sports Centre, the Federal Express Hangar, the Hilltop Ski Area and the Harry J. McDonald Memorial Center.

A wonderful part of the efforts leading up to the games has been the response by local businesses and droves of Alaskan volunteers, officials said. By early last month, organizers already had enlisted the help of 5,500 volunteers, reaching the goal set by organizers. There were many more eager to help.

"We've got 2,000 volunteers who are on the waiting list," Bocking said, and a volunteer hotline was set up to take calls from those willing to offer help.

Economists at the Institute for Social and Economic Research, in a preliminary...