More than 1,000 athletes compete in annual Special Olympics State Summer Games
State Summer Games inspires connection of volunteers and athletes through the power of sports
Anna Moseley |
To signify the start of the 2019 games, local law enforcement officers carried the flame of hope through Lipscomb University’s campus into Allen Arena.
“Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” — Special Olympics Player's Oath
The opening ceremony for the Special Olympics Tennessee State Summer Games officially began after more than 1,000 athletes paraded through Allen Arena, recited the player’s oath and sang the Star Spangled Banner.
Lipscomb and Special Olympics Tennessee have maintained a partnership for more than 17 years. Each summer, 2,500 athletes, coaches and volunteers from Memphis to Johnson City and everywhere in between, travel to Lipscomb’s campus for Special Olympics’ biggest event of the year.
This year, the age of athletes ranged from 8 to 69-years-old and they each competed in one of six different sports: track, volleyball, bocce ball, powerlifting, swimming and tennis.
“This event is such an experience for the athletes,” said Sean Stake, vice president of sports for Special Olympics Tennessee. “They get to come to Nashville at such a beautiful university, to have four great meals, compete for medals, stay in the dorms, dance at the victory celebration and make new friends.”
The theme of the State Summer Games this year was “Choose to Include,” said Stakes. This event did just that as it allowed athletes to shine and provided them with a sense of inclusion and family.
Special Olympics, a program of sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type events designed for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, is a year-round movement with 200 smaller events all throughout the state that culminate in six statewide events. This competition is the largest and requires more than 1,000 volunteers.
Through the power of sports, people with intellectual disabilities discover new strengths and abilities, skills and success. Special Olympics athletes find joy, confidence and fulfillment—on the playing field and in life. They also inspire people in their communities and elsewhere to open their hearts to a wider world of human talents and potential.
“We are a small staff, but we have an unbelievable army of volunteers that come through and put everything together for us,” said Stake. “Lipscomb is a gracious host, they bend over backwards to take care of us and we have been blessed for the partnership with them.”
Special Olympics State Summer Games added a mini javelin throw this year.
“We feel like family now with the Lipscomb staff. We interact so much that I know them by name and I ask them how their kids are, we feel like Lipscomb is our home away from home,” he said.
Haley Davis, Lipscomb’s senior event manager, has worked with the Special Olympics staff to put on this event since she began working at Lipscomb 10 years ago and said it is the most rewarding event.
“This event is very humbling,” said Davis. “For most events, you work, and you get your job done and hope you do a good job and then you move onto the next event, but because of the joy and genuine pride of the athletes, you can’t help but stop and think, this is bigger than all of us.”
Both Chick-fil-a and Coca-Cola attended the event and served chicken sandwiches and Coke products to volunteers, coaches, athletes and fans, free of charge.
Learn more about Special Olympics Tennessee.