City council’s written willingness Tuesday to host the 2015 Special Olympics B.C. Winter Games was all that was needed to convince the organization to give Kamloops the job.

Special Olympics B.C. announced officially Wednesday that the city will play host to as many as 700 athletes and hundreds more coaches, supporters and family members.

The news followed a day after City council voted unanimously to write a letter of support for the event. Council promised in-kind donations such as access to sporting facilities.

Kamloops hosted the B.C. Special Olympics in 2003.

The 2015 Games will be held in February and feature seven sports: alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, floor hockey, snowshoeing and speed skating.

Those who take top medals will move on to the 2016 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in Corner Brook, Nfld. From there, they can qualify for the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria.