About Us 
Acceptance
Check Out Our PHOTO GALLERY
Be A Fan Of
About Us
Mission
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.
History
The global Special Olympics movement started on July 20, 1968, when the first International Special Olympics Games were held at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois, USA. However the concept of Special Olympics was thought of much earlier, when Eunice Kennedy Shriver started a day camp for people with intellectual disabilities at her home in 1962. For more information about Special Olympics visit specialolympics.org
Goal
The ultimate goal of Special Olympics is to help persons with intellectual disabilities participate as productive and respected members of society at large by offering them a fair opportunity to develop and demonstrate their skills and talents through sports training and competition and by increasing the public's awareness of their capabilities and needs.
Sports
Special Olympics Greater Memphis conducts 12 different sports throughout the year. Full participation is granted to every athlete regardless of his or her economic circumstances. Over 2,500 Special Olympics athletes are registered with Special Olympics Greater Memphis.
Special Olympics Greater Memphis offers the following sports:
Aquatics Athletics (Track and Field) Basketball Bocce Bowling Golf Powerlifiting Soccer Tennis Volleyball 
Aquatics.pdf
Athletics.pdf
Basketball.pdf
Bocce.pdf
Bowling.pdf
Golf.pdf
Powerlifting.pdf
Soccer.pdf
Tennis.pdf
Volleyball.pdf
Programs Skill
Check Out Our PHOTO GALLERY
Be A Fan Of
Programs
Bellevue Angels Bellevue Angels
Bellevue Angels was formed in May of 1998. Their purpose is to not only help our
athletes excel in each sport, but to teach them values they can use in everyday
life. The Angels meet at Bellevue Baptist Church Grace Building on Tuesday
evenings.
Bellevue Angels offer the following sports:
Volleyball Track & Field (which also includes Bocce) Softball Soccer Basketball Location & Times:
Bellevue Baptist Church
Grace Building
2000 Appling Road
Cordova, TN 38016
Tuesday 5:45 PM to 7:00 PM
If you have any questions please contact:
Bill Cooper
901-438-6924
nellie.cooper_att.net
All athletes must complete and submit the following forms for every program in which they participate:
2012 Spring Bellevue Angles Schedule.pdf
Application_for_Participation.pdf
Official_Special_Olympics_Release_Form.pdf
BigAXrayForm.pdf
Bowling King Pins Bowling League
The Special Olympics King Pins Bowling league began in September, 1999. It was the idea of the late Jane Ross and her husband, Davis Ross, that there should be an organized bowling league for Special Olympics athletes.
The league was started with 6 athletes and two volunteers on the first day. Now the league has over 100 athletes and 60 volunteers. Bowling begins in September and the athletes bowl every Monday until the first week of May at Cordova Bowling Center.
Cordova Bowling Center
7945 Club Center Drive
Cordova, TN
Monday 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM
For more information contact:
David Ross
901-747-3757
davidross5147_gmail.com
All athletes must complete and submit the following forms for every program in which they participate:
King Pins Fall 2011 Schedule.pdf
King Pins Application (2).pdf
Application_for_Participation.pdf
Official_Special_Olympics_Release_Form.pdf
BigAXrayForm.pdf
Fitness Club Fitness Club
Fitness Club was founded by a group of parents in 1979. They met at Emanuel Methodist Church. At that time they had about 20 athletes and 10 volunteers over the years Fitness Club grew and moved to Quince Road Church of Christ with 40 athletes and 20 volunteers. In February of 1988 Central Church invited us to use their Family Life Center and we grew to over 200 athletes. In 2001, World Overcomers Outreach Ministries Church graciously let us stay at their beautiful Family Life Center and have made us feel at home.
Fitness Club offers the following sports:
Basketball Bocce Powerlifting Swimming Track & Field Volleyball Fitness Club meets September to May on Monday nights from 5:00 PM to 7:15 PM.
World Overcomers Church
Family Life Center
6655 Winchester Road
Memphis, TN 38115
For more information contact:
Lisa Taylor
901-683-1271
ltaylorsotn_hotmail.com
All athletes must complete and submit the following forms for every program in which they participate:
2012 Fitness Club Winter and Spring Schedule.pdf
Application_for_Participation.pdf
Official_Special_Olympics_Release_Form.pdf
BigAXrayForm.pdf
Golf Golf
The Special Olympics Golf program runs during the months of April thru September on Wednesday and Thursday evenings.
Golf practice is held on Wednesday from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Quail Ridge Golf Course, 4055 Altruria Road, Memphis, TN 38135.
Golf league play is held on Thursday evenings at 5 PM at various courses in the Mid-South area.
Contact:
Program Directors
John Sprott & Laurie Pyatt
901-272-1746
afm71_att.net
Program Co-Director
Jesse Weeks
901-387-8605
jesseweeks_pga.com
All athletes must complete and submit the following forms for every program in which they participate:
Application_for_Participation.pdf
Official_Special_Olympics_Release_Form.pdf
BigAXrayForm.pdf
Powerlifting Powerlifting
Danny Kingsley, along with Brian Webb, started powerlifting in September of 1987. At that time powerlifting was just an exhibition sport. In 1988 it became a sanctioned sport across the state of Tennessee.
Danny is currently the Powerlifting Director for the State of Tennessee and Area 2.
To participate in powerlifting you must be at least 16 years of age, be able to lift a 45 pound bar in the bench press, deadlift, and squat. For more information please contact Danny Kingsley.
Contact:
Danny Kingsley
901-485-5903
World Overcomers Church
Family Life Center
6655 Winchester Road
Memphis, TN 38115
Monday 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM
All athletes must complete and submit the following forms for every program in which they participate:
FitnessClub2011WinterSpringSched.pdf
Application_for_Participation.pdf
Official_Special_Olympics_Release_Form.pdf
BigAXrayForm.pdf
Tennis Tennis
The Special Olympics Tennis Program is held at Colonial Country Club and consists of two four week clinics during the months of June and September.
Mike Harris, Director of Tennis & Fitness for Colonial Country Club, runs the Special Olympics Tennis Program. He encourages any athlete that has an interest in tennis to come join the program at any time!
Colonial Country Club
2736 Countrywood Parkway
Cordova, TN 38016
Wednesdays in the months of June & September from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
For more information please contact:
Mike Harris
901-619-6896
tennis_colonialcountryclub.org
All athletes must complete and submit the following forms for every program in which they participate:
Application_for_Participation.pdf
Official_Special_Olympics_Release_Form.pdf
BigAXrayForm.pdf
Athletes Determination
Check Out Our PHOTO GALLERY
Be A Fan Of
Athletes
Eligibility
To be eligible to participate in Special Olympics, athletes must be at least 8 years old and identified by an agency or professional as having one of the following conditions: intellectual disability; a cognitive delay as determined by standardized measures such as intelligence quotient or other generally accepted measures; or a closely related development disability, i.e., functional limitations in both general learning and adaptive skills. There is no cost to participate in Special Olympics.
If you are a person with a intellectual disability (or the parent of a child with an intellectual disability) and would like to enroll yourself (or your child) to develop athleticism, build courage, make friends, experience teamwork and delight in your (their) accomplishments, then please contact Special Olympics Greater Memphis.
Best of all, Special Olympics is FREE to eligible people wishing to participate! The financial and in-kind support of sponsors, donors, and families make it possible for Special Olympics athletes to never be charged a fee to compete!
Registration/Medical Forms
All athletes must complete and submit the following forms for every program in which they participate:
Global Messenger
Global Messengers are Special Olympics athletes who help spread the message and vision of the movement as well as the benefits they have gained by participating in Special Olympics. As leaders and message-bearers of the movement, Global Messengers communicate the powerful declarations of hope, acceptance, dignity and courage of Special Olympics athletes around the world. Only athletes can effectively relate the impact that the movement has had on their lives and the lives of their families.
To become a Global Messenger in our Athlete Leadership Program you must have a desire to serve in meaningful leadership roles other than or in addition to that of a "competitor".
If you would like more information about joining this exciting outreach program please contact Special Olympics Greater Memphis.
Unified Sports
Special Olympics Unified Sports is an initiative that combines approximately equal numbers of Special Olympics athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities (called Partners) on sports teams for training and competition.
Throughout the year, in a variety of sports ranging from basketball and soccer, to golf and bowling, Unified athletes build their bodies, sharpen their skills, challenge themselves through competition and have fun too. Its a physical workout that builds friendship, character, leadership and inspires greatness in all who participate.
Unified Sports programs include: golf, softball, bowling, soccer, basketball, volleyball and bocce.
If would like more information on how you can assist in breaking down the barriers that historically have kept people with and without developmental disabilities apart, then please contact Special Olympics Greater Memphis.
Click here for the Unified Partner forms.
Application_for_Participation.pdf
Official_Special_Olympics_Release_Form.pdf
BigAXrayForm.pdf
Calendar Joy
Check Out Our PHOTO GALLERY
Be A Fan Of
Calendar of Events
Date Event Contact
March 10, 2012 City Basketball Tournament Special Olympics Office
Bellevue Baptist Church e-mail
901-683-1271
April 21, 2012 MGLW City Volleyball and Powerlifting Tournament Special Olympics Office
Rhodes College e-mail
901-683-1271
May 5, 2012 Cargill FedEx City Track & Field Special Olympics Office
All Ages e-mail
Rhodes College 901-683-1271
February 4, 2012 Polar Bear Plunge & Chili Cookoff Special Olympics Office
Mud Island River Park e-mail
Click here for more information 901-683-1271
March 24, 2012 City Swim Meet Laurie Herzog
St. George's Independent School cphlrh_aol.com
May 4, 2012 Cargill FedEx City Track & Field Special Olympics Office
Elementary, Middle, and High Schools e-mail
Rhodes College 901-683-1271
Fundraising Giving
Check Out Our PHOTO GALLERY
Be A Fan Of
Fundraising & Special Events
Fundraising Main Special Olympics of Greater Memphis offers year-round traing for children and adults with intellectual dissabilities at no cost to the athletes, themselves. To do so, Special Olympics relies on fundraising and donations. Here are the fundraising events we have coming soon. Click on the name of an event to learn more about it.
Polar Bear Plunge
February 4, 2012 - Mud Island
Polar Bear Plunge 
The 6th Annual Chili Cook-off and the
13th Annual Polar Bear Plunge!
Come join the fun!
Mud Island River Park
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Family fun for a great cause!
Both events benefit Special Olympics of Greater Memphis.
Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
The Plunge
The Chili Cook-Off
Event Schedule
Sponsors
Over The Edge Saturday, August 27th - i Bank Tower
If you are a fan of courage and thrills, then we know you are fan enough to go Over the Edge for our athletes. Special Olympics of Greater Memphis is excited to offer this exhilarating opportunity to rappel down from The i Bank Tower in Memphis. You can raise money and your heart rate! Not to mention, you'll know you've helped ensure exciting opportunities for our local athletes to train and compete in sports.
Over the Edge is open to the first 100 entrants who meet the following criteria:
1. Body weight between 110 and 300 pounds.
2. Raise a minimum of $1000 by event date.
The $1000 minimum can be raised by any combination of donations gathered from friends, family or co-workers.
You can collect checks and donations from everyone or just register above and utilize our online fundraising pages - it's the easiest and safest way to $1000!
What's in it for me?
You mean, besides the adrenaline rush AND knowing that you made life better for hundreds of Special Olympics athletes AND a great story to share with everyone whose fanhood isn't as big as yours? We're glad you asked! For your time and dedication to Special Olympics, we're glad to offer:
Official Special Olympics Over the Edge apparel A commemorative photo of your rappel Free admission for you and your guest to our official OTE pre-party / reception Who handles all the safety stuff?
We would like to thank our 2011 Over the Edge Sponsors:
Wine and Dine 
Andrew Ticer & Michael Hudman - Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen Nick Scott - Blue Fin Erling Jensen - Erling Jensen's Sabine Bachmann - Fratelli's Café Jeff Dunham - Grove Grill Jackson Kramer - Interim Tim Barker - Tower Center The Plunge The Plunge
Event Main Page
The Plunge
The Chili Cook-Off
Event Schedule
Sponsors
Schedule Event Main Page
The Plunge
The Chili Cook-Off
Event Schedule
Sponsors
Sponsors We would like to thank our Polar Bear Plunge Sponsors:
Event Main Page
The Plunge
The Chili Cook-Off
Event Schedule
Sponsors
