Registration numbers for the Badger State Winter Games, the Nation's largest winter sports festival, are up compared to this time last year.

"We're very encouraged. It's great to see this many people signed up already." said Tim Allen, Director of Marketing for Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation. "Some of the increase is due to the amount of snow we've received so early this year, which is very encouraging, especially for the sports that are snow dependent such as Nordic Skiing and the Quadrathlon where we can't make snow. However, we've had many of our Hockey divisions fill up already too, so it's more than just the snow that's contributing to the numbers increase. A lot of hard work has gone in to getting the word out across the state. We were able to get our promotions out earlier this year and get registration open earlier too. If the numbers go the way we think they will, this will be the 3rd year in a row that participation has increased."

The 2006 Games will take place the last weekend in January and the first weekend in February. Archery, Bowling, Youth and Women's hockey will take place January 27-29, 2006, while the remaining sports, Alpine Skiing, Billiards, Curling, Figure Skating, Freestyle Skiing, Men's Hockey, Nordic Skiing, Quadrathlon, Ski Jumping, Snowboarding, Snowshoe Racing and Speedskating will occur February 3-5, 2006 in and around north-central Wisconsin.

For more scheduling information and to register for the 2006 Winter Games log on to www.badgerstategames.org or call 608-226-4780.

Wausau Insurance Companies presents the Badger State Winter Games. Major sponsors are American Family Insurance, Charter Communications, the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board and Saint Joseph's Hospital, Marshfield, with special thanks to TravelWisconsin.com and the Wausau/Central Wisconsin Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation is a nonprofit sports management organization that helps develop sports tourism in Wisconsin and promotes positive lifestyles and physical fitness through amateur athletic events and health education programs. WSDC owns the Badger State Games, the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame, the Wisconsin Sports Foundation, Paddle & Portage, Shape Up Wisconsin Kids, Lighten Up Wisconsin and the Fit Kids Challenge. WSDC is also the local host of Ironman Wisconsin