Special Olympics in the Murfreesboro area has grown considerably, with Olympians training in a variety of sports in preparation for upcoming events involving athletes from across the state. Assistant Murfreesboro Parks and Rec. Director Thomas Laird told WGNS… The Special Olympics Event will be held at MTSU on April 15th.
Earlier this year, Murfreesboro Parks and Wrecks. SportsCom held its annual Polar Bear Plunge in its outdoor swimming pool, raising thousands of dollars for local Olympians…
Athletics is one of the big categories for Olympic athletes. Through athletics-based training programs, participants work on their overall fitness for participation in a variety of sports. Nearly 600 athletes from Rutherford County participated in last year’s track and field… Athletes who participate in Special Olympics have intellectual and physical disabilities.
Larid says many teens throughout the Rutherford County school system are taking an active role in working with athletes in Special Olympics. Even more heartwarming, 79% of his cohesive teammates without disabilities reported having a better understanding of people with intellectual disabilities after attending Special Olympics.
Looking back, Special Olympics was founded as an organization in 1968 and today has over 5.7 million athletes competing in at least 172 countries. His 65% of parents confirmed that Special Olympics has raised expectations for their son or daughter. More than half of athlete siblings feel that participating in Special Olympics has strengthened family ties (57%).
