cityCURRENT | Special Olympics Tennessee and State Summer Games

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Justin Bradford, Director of Marketing and Communications for Special Olympics Tennessee, who highlights the nonprofit organization’s mission and efforts to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

During the interview, Justin discusses their statewide efforts and being powered by volunteers, the different sports and competitions, and the important trend of Unified Sports, where people without an intellectual disability compete alongside people with an intellectual disability. Justin highlights their State Summer Games, taking place May 19 and 20 at Lipscomb University in Nashville, where 1,000 athletes from across the state will compete in 6 different sports. He also talks about how the community can participate through volunteerism and other ways to support their efforts year-round.

Largest event of the year – State Summer Games – May 19 & 20 at Lipscomb University. 1,000 athletes from across the state will compete in 6 different sports. https://link.edgepilot.com/s/d8a840f9/yUoLqsSC-U6F257eOPFGgw?u=https://www.specialolympicstn.org/sports/state-games/summer-games?locale=en

Summer Games will also include Unified Sports in volleyball. Unified Sports is a huge initiative that is spreading across the country where people without an intellectual disability compete alongside people with an intellectual disability.
https://link.edgepilot.com/s/38ae1456/bSkmPfsjE0iuv1T7bW6eXg?u=https://www.specialolympicstn.org/sports/unified-sports/about-unified-sports?locale=en

Special Olympics not only provides an opportunity to participate in sports, but also health screenings in multiple disciplines. Many of our athletes are underserved when it comes to their health, so we provide free screenings in dental health, optometry, hearing, podiatry, mental health and more. We also have programs that work with our athletes to teach them proper fitness and nutrition techniques. https://link.edgepilot.com/s/a609d3d4/IiTmd7MPmUG5azNbCMFv7Q?u=https://www.specialolympicstn.org/beyond-sports/healthy-athletes?locale=en