Winter of 2016 may be cold, but it will bring a heartwarming athletic event to the mid-Hudson Valley, along with thousands of visitors and a nice boost for local business.

It’s a first for the region. The Special Olympics New York Winter Games is coming to Dutchess County.

Bobby Wilson, 37, of Poughkeepsie, is excited about it. He’s participated as an athlete in these games, and knows how important they are for him.

Special Olympics is “my second family,” he told a crowd at an announcement event Wednesday. “I’ll do anything for them.” His speech drew a long round of applause and cheers.

“I’m looking forward to having the Olympic games coming to my hometown, my backyard,” Wilson said.

What’s so special? This organization exists to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

It’s well-known in the Hudson Valley, which has for many years been a part of this global movement. And, from what the head of the New York unit says, notice was taken.

“We had an ongoing local program in the Hudson Valley,” said Neal Johnson. “We think it’s one of the best local programs in the country.”

What’s next is nearly a year of organizing and fundraising. Volunteers are needed, even though Johnson said many will come here along with the nonprofit’s New York staff, plus probably 1,000 competitors and coaches along with an entourage of family and friends.

The announcement created a buzz among local supporters at an event at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center Wednesday, where Special Olympics and county officials revealed the news.

The games will take place February 19-21, 2016, in various venues throughout the Hudson Valley region, specifically in Dutchess, Orange and Sullivan counties. Officials said the region will also host the 2017 winter games.

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro said this will be the first time the Special Olympics New York’s Winter Games will be held in the Hudson Valley, though local and regional events have been held in the area over the years. Poughkeepsie will be the headquarters.

“This is the first time that all winter games venues have been provided at no cost,” Molinaro said, setting a tone of competitiveness for the county and the region. This is an opportunity “for more of us in the Hudson Valley to put our best foot forward.”

Johnson, president and CEO of Special Olympics New York, called upon local backers and friends to “help make our event next year extra special,” and help the participants coming from around the state to share “their skills, their courage and their joy.”

He said that based on previous experience, which means local and regional competitions, he expected a good backing from the region in supporting the games. That requires lots of volunteers, he said.

A Games Organizing Committee has been formed and is co-chaired by Mary Kay Vrba, president and CEO of Dutchess Tourism, and Frank Castella Jr., president and CEO of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Fundraising is part of the plan, with a $100,000 target for each of the two years the games will be held here. NevillSmythe, an independent fundraiser in the area, heads that effort.

Others are event planner Monica Relyea, logistics chair James Hammond, publicist Jeanine Agnolet and co-chairs of volunteer organizing, retired IBMer Kathy Smith of Dutchess and Lynne Cione, president of the Orange County Chamber of Commerce.

Venues will include the county’s Bowdoin Park, the McCann Ice Arena at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center, the New York Air National Guard at Stewart International Airport and Holiday Mountain Ski Area in Sullivan County, officials said.

Games bring business

It was a decade ago that the area last hosted a similar statewide event, but with a different sponsor.

In 2005, the summer edition of the Empire State Games — a statewide, Olympic-style event — came to Dutchess County, New Paltz and a handful of other nearby sites.

Six thousand athletes participated, and an estimated 20,000 people came to the area.

Turnout for this winter’s event is not expected to be that large, but substantial.

Hoteliers are keyed up about it already.

“I am so excited,” said Maureen Kangas, manager at the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel. “I am going to be one of the main hotels and they are going to set up their office here. We’re actually feeding all the athletes, we are opening all of our ballrooms.” The hotel will be dedicated just to the Special Olympics that weekend.

Krista Borrero, marketing manager at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fishkill, said, “We can definitely gain occupancy during the slow season.”

Amanda Pugliese, head of marketing at the Hampton Inn in Fishkill, said, “We’re happy to have them here,” and that big events like these can fill the rooms up.

But the big impact of the games is exactly where it’s aimed — at the children and adults who get to participate.

“I can’t wait to volunteer,” said April Marie Farley, a Beacon resident and Dutchess legislator. She knows the value of such offerings because she has a son on the autism spectrum. “His favorite class is gym,” but maintains a high average in math, she said.

“When you talk about kids with disabilities, you want to talk about their strengths,” she said. “This is a great opportunity. You want to give them something to look forward to.”

John Ferro contributed. Craig Wolf: 845-437-4815; cwolf@poughkeepsiejournal.com; Twitter: @craigwolfPJ