Special Olympics Tennessee, partnered with Vanderbilt, announced their bid to host the 2030 Special Olympics USA Games on Feb.17. The press event, held in the McGugin Center, featured speakers, Special Olympics executives and athletes.
If awarded, Nashville would welcome an estimated 4,500 Special Olympics athletes from across the U.S. to compete in 17 sports, from corn hole and competitive cheer to basketball and bowling. The city would also host over 10,000 volunteers, family members and supporters.
“This city is known for hospitality, a vibrant culture and dedication to making everyone feel welcome,” Adam Germek, president and CEO of Special Olympics Tennessee, said. “We believe the city will provide the perfect stage for these athletes to shine and for the world to witness the true meaning of inclusion.”
The bid was organized in partnership with Vanderbilt, the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp, the Tennessee Titans, the Nashville Predators, the Nashville Soccer Club, the Music City Center, the city of Nashville and the state of Tennessee. This group has been working on the bid process since 2021.
“At Vanderbilt, we believe that this kind of place is where people realize their full potential, where they can reach new heights and achieve them [and] where they flourish and shine,” Chancellor Daniel Diermeier said. “This is the experience we strive to provide for student-athletes in our community and would be proud to extend the athletes and community of Special Olympics.”
Vanderbilt has a long history with the Special Olympics. In 1974, Vanderbilt students and faculty helped write the grant that launched Special Olympics Tennessee, which was headquartered at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for nearly two decades. Additionally, Vanderbilt currently has a Special Olympics chapter led by junior Amelia Cook.
“For me, Special Olympics VU has always been an organization that has felt like home. I went there first semester knowing nobody and left with 10 new friends,” Cook said. “Watching athletes compete and make new friends every week is incredibly rewarding and an experience that makes every event and practice more meaningful than the last.”
Mark Ezell, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, emphasized that hosting the 2030 Special Olympics USA Games in Nashville would generate over $100 million for the greater Nashville community. He emphasized that along with the economic benefits, the event will inspire the community and will be an investment in Nashville’s future.
“We get excited because as athletes and spectators visit, they also leave behind dollars that go to our local businesses, our hotels, our restaurants and our stores,” Ezell said. “Not only that, but they save taxpayer dollars and they create jobs for folks who are hardworking and then create funds to help us with education, health care and safety.”
This event would be the first sports event of its kind in Nashville and the largest inclusive event in Nashville’s history. Nashville is a finalist for the bid, along with Cleveland, and the final announcement will be made in April.
“Hosting a Special Olympics event in Nashville would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for not only the members of our org[anization] and our athletes in Next Steps but also for the entirety of the disability community in Nashville,” Cook said. “It would be so impactful to see such a powerful organization recognize our city and honor our community with their support.”
