The Badger State games torch has been passed on to a new owner. The Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation said Monday it would sell the rights to the summer and winter Olympic-style games to the Wausau-Central Wisconsin Convention and Visitors Bureau. WSDC president Dan Doyle said the winter games will be run the first weekend in February primarily in the Wausau area like they’ve always been. The Fox Cities will continue to host most summer games for the next couple of years.
The deal is worth $15,000 and gives the Wausau CVB the Badger State game rights, trademark, Web site and registration and marketing systems. The CVB will invest $5,000 in athlete scholarships each year over the next three years to cover the sale price. The Wisconsin Sports Foundation and Ministry Health Care will collectively pay the first $5,000. Wausau CVB director Darien Schaefer said they will let local clubs run the summer games in Fox Cities for the next couple of years.
Matt Lehman, WSAU