"I do my best and sometimes I win. I am proud because I tried"
Shirley Givens-
Special Olympics
Tennessee Athlete
Special Olympics Tennessee conducts six state championships every year. These events are the culmination of an athletes training and competition cycle for a specific sports season.
Winter Games - (Late January-Early December)
Over 150 athletes compete in
alpine skiing, snowboarding and speed skating. This annual event is held at the
Ober resort in Gatlinburg, TN. Ability levels in each sport range from beginner to advanced.
State Basketball Tournaments - (February-March)
Over 50 teams compete in three state sanctioned tournaments (two regional-one state). The state tournament for both Unified and Traditional
Basketball is held at Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN. Teams are divided into divisions based on age, gender and ability level.
Summer Games - (Mid May)
Special Olympics Tennessee Summer Games is the largest event on the calendar with over 1000 athletes competing on the campus of Vanderbilt University in
Athletics (Track & Field), Aquatics, Bocce, Powerlifting, Tennis, and Volleyball. The event includes an Olympic-style Opening ceremony at Lipscomb University that includes a parade of athletes, torch run, and live entertainiment. The always anticipated victory dance concludes the event on Saturday night.
