"Let the Games continue" -- Aug. 1, 2006

By Caleb Breakey
The Olympian

The Washington State Senior Games wrapped up Sunday, with the exception of a few events taking place next weekend. But news from the head of the Games may give seniors a reason to keep the celebration going.

Jack Kiley, president of the Puget Sound Senior Games, which presents the state's senior games, summed up the weekend - "A success."

What's more is Washington is on the verge of bringing in the first senior world winter games, which would attract a minimum of 6,000 athletes from across the globe, said Washington State Senior Games President Perry Dolan.

The games would feature 3-on-3 basketball, pickle ball, swimming, cross country, snowboarding and others.

"We have countries just chomping at the bits to get information," Dolan said. "When are you going to have it? Where is it going to be? What are the venues?"

Dolan said the Games' board is working with a group and certain communities, but wouldn't release names until a press conference in January 2007. The Games' preliminaries would be in 2008, and the Games would start in 2009 and continue every year thereafter.

Such an event generates a considerable money flow. Dolan said his generation - the late 60s - spends more money than other generations, and that 40,000 people about his age would come.

"Dollar-wise, it will probably bring that community, after all expenses... for two weeks, anywhere from $15 to $35 million dollars that they can't get from taxing people," Dolan said.

While the location of games is undisclosed, Dolan said it will be close to snow, ruling out the Olympia area.

Dolan also said big cities usually won't hold this sort of event.

"You couldn't put these games in Seattle," he said. "Large cities are not conducive to world-type class, large Olympic-type things. They have to be in the outskirts where you get support from the local community."

Dolan said the board is launching a new Web site - washingtonstateseniorgames.com - sometime next month.

In order to have the games, the state needs to hold five nationally recognized senior games, Dolan said. Washington currently has such events in Seattle, Bremerton, Port Angeles and Olympia. Next year, Games will also be held in Kirkland.

Dolan said the board is also eyeing the Tri-Cities, Wenatchee, Yakima and Spokane as possible Senior Games' locations.