SPECIAL OLYMPICS TENNESSEE WINTER GAMES BEGIN THIS SUNDAY IN GATLINBURG
Events will include alpine skiing, snowboarding and speed-skating at Ober Mountain, and 3v3 basketball at Rocky Top Sports World
Special Olympics Tennessee (SOTN) will host its annual Winter Games presented by Wellpoint Tennessee in Gatlinburg at Ober Mountain, Rocky Top Sports World and Gatlinburg Convention Center. The Games will feature four Special Olympics sports, with 300 athletes from across the state participating.
Special Olympics Tennessee athletes will compete in alpine skiing, snowboarding, speed skating and 3v3 basketball in divisions based on age and ability.
“We’re excited to be back in Gatlinburg for this exciting annual event,” said Special Olympics Tennessee President and CEO Adam Germek. “We’ve seen tremendous growth in 3v3 basketball, which makes the sport more accessible and inclusive to our athletes. Our venue partners at the Gatlinburg Convention Center, Ober Mountain, and Rocky Top Sports World have been amazing in hosting all our activities. We hope people in the area will come out and support our athletes as they compete to set new personal records and go for gold.”
Opening ceremonies will occur on Sunday, January 26, at 6:45 p.m. at the Gatlinburg Convention Center. Athletes will parade in by delegation from their local areas, the Special Olympics Athlete Oath will be recited, and the Games will be declared open.
On the first day of competition, the mountain torch relay will begin at 9:15 p.m. on Monday, January 29, followed by the traditional lighting of the Special Olympics Tennessee cauldron at Ober Mountain. Competitions will start shortly after and occur through Tuesday, January 30, at Ober Mountain, Rocky Top Sports World and Gatlinburg Convention Center.
Leading up to the festivities of State Winter Games will be two events hosted by the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. The second-annual Pigeon Forge Polar Plunge fundraiser will kick off the weekend on January 25 at 6:00 p.m. at Margaritaville Island Hotel. Interested participants can register here.
Leading up to the Opening Ceremonies on January 26 will be the first Law Enforcement Torch Run of 2025. Participants from the Gatlinburg Police Department, Sevierville Police Department, Pigeon Forge Police Department, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Office of Homeland Security, Johnson City Police Department, Metro Nashville Police Department and many others will join Special Olympics Tennessee athletes on the Flame of Hope’s journey to the cauldron beginning at the Gatlinburg Police Department at 4:30 p.m. on January 26. Torch Run participants will light the cauldron with Special Olympics athletes outside the Gatlinburg Convention Center at 5:00 p.m. The Law Enforcement Torch Run’s mission is to raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics.
Throughout the weekend, SOTN athletes will also be treated to group dinners, a celebration party after the events and much more.
All competitions are open to the public, and volunteer opportunities are still available and can be found here.
For more information on host venues, visit OberMountain.com, RockyTopSportsWorld.com or Gatlinburg.com. A full schedule of events can be found at SpecialOlympicsTN.org/winter.
