Special Olympics in the Murfreesboro area has grown considerably and Olympians are training in a variety of sports to prepare for an upcoming event that will involve athletes from across the state. Assistant Murfreesboro Parks and Rec. Director Thomas Laird told WGNS… The Special Olympics event will be at MTSU on April 15th.

Earlier this year, Murfreesboro Parks and Rec. held their annual Polar Bear Plunge at the SportsCom outdoor swimming pool and raised several thousand dollars for local Olympians…

Track and Field is one of the larger categories for Olympians. Through the track-and-field-based training program, participants work on their overall fitness to compete in a variety of sports. Approximately 600 athletes in Rutherford County participated in last year’s track and field competitions... Athletes that participate in the Special Olympics have intellectual and physical disabilities.

Larid told us that a large number of teenagers throughout the Rutherford County School system play an active role in partnering with athletes in the Special Olympics. What’s more heartwarming is that 79% of unified teammates without disabilities reported increased understanding of people with intellectual disabilities, after participating in the Special Olympics.

Looking back, the Special Olympics were established as an organization in 1968 and today, more than 5.7-million athletes compete in at least 172 different countries. 65% Of parents confirmed that the Special Olympics has raised their expectations of their sons and/or daughters. More than half of the athletes’ siblings felt that participation in Special Olympics brought their family closer together (57%).