DUANE SHERRILLEditor

Special Olympics Area 13 – Lower Cumberland has announced its 2025 Spring Games, taking place on Tuesday, April 29, with a rain-out date of Monday, May 6. This year’s theme, “Celebrating Every Champion,” reflects the incredible heart, courage, and determination of every athlete who participates.

The event will be held at Wilkins Stadium in Tullahoma, where athletes, families, and fans from across the region will gather for a day of unity, sportsmanship, and celebration. The day’s festivities will begin with an inspiring Opening Ceremony and culminate in athletic competitions highlighting the strength and ability of our incredible athletes.

Last year over 280 athletes competed in the games, competing in athletics like the long jump, softball throw, races and bocce ball. The counties that participated included Coffee, Bedford, Franklin, Moore and Lincoln counties.

Special Olympics Lower Cumberland Area 13 is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing year-round sports training and athletic competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities in Coffee, Franklin, Bedford, Moore, and Lincoln Counties. Through the power of sports, the organization aims to empower individuals, promote inclusion, and create communities of acceptance and respect.

Helping make sure the games went smoothly was a small army of volunteers. “The people of our area are always ready to go above and beyond to help,” said volunteer Susan Carr. “We know we can always depend on them.”

The schedule of events are as follows:

•     9 a.m. – Athletes line up on track

•     9:30 a.m. – Ceremonies begin

•     9:45 a.m. – Pledge of Allegiance – Vicki Harmon

•     9:50 a.m. – National Anthem – Rylan Archibald and John Laster

•     9:55 a.m. – Special Olympics Oath – Kailonie Parkerson and Jayden Zarate-Naranjo

•     10 a.m. – Torch run – Avory Shumard

•     10:10 a.m. – Banner winner announced

•     10:15 a.m. – Athletes go to event locations

•     10:20 a.m. – Games begin

•     2 p.m. – Games end

Sponsors include Families • Volunteers • Tip-A-Cop • Threads • Digital Arts @ Tullahoma High School • Masonic Lodge • Dustin Lynch • Kiwanis • Coke • AEDC • Lions Club • Tullahoma Football Quarterback Club • LightTube • First Christian Church • CrossFit • THS ROTC • Community Donators • McMurr’s • Lulu’s Café • Drafts and Watercrafts • Damron’s Restaurant • Peahead Productions