| In 1968, Eunice Kennedy
Shriver founded Special Olympics as part of the Joseph P. Kennedy foundation. Since then,
Special Olympics has grown into an international organization (SOI), with affiliates in
all 50 states and 143 different countries worldwide. The premise of the original Special
Olympics, to improve the quality of life for individuals with mental retardation and their
families, is alive and well today. Back in 1972, Area V
started it's program in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The program began with approximately 300
special education students from Knoxville, Oak Ridge and Roane County. The only events
offered were in track and field. The Oak Ridge Jaycees ran the program. As the years went
on, more sports were offered (team sports were introduced). Toward the end of the 80's,
the administration changed hands and the program was initiated in Knoxville. Area V was
honored to have Betty Roy as their Area Director. Betty's leadership helped Area V server
over 1300 athletes in seven counties participating in nine sports. Because of increasing
numbers of athletes, the state office decided to move four of the counties out of Area V
decreasing the number of athletes to 800.
Over the past decade, we have increased
our numbers to over 1500 athletes and have added eight new traditional sports and ten
unified sports. In 1982, a Special Olympics Games committee
was organized to coordinate the growing number of events. Volunteer event directors were
recruited, who in turn recruited event committees for each sport. There are now over 130
nationally certified Special Olympic coaches in the Area V Greater Knoxville division of
the Special Olympics. On many occasions, Special Olympics of Greater Knoxville has been
honored to provide coaches to serve as state basketball, soccer, aquatics, power lifting,
gymnastics and track and field clinicians. In 1998, an Advisory Committee was established
to assist in fund raising and community awareness. This committee is made up of business
and community leaders in the Greater Knoxville area. Kim Hatfield-Gray began co-directing
Special Olympics with Betty Roy in 1996. In 1999, she took over the position of program
director for Area V. Ms. Hatfield-Gray is employed by the Knox County School System as a
special education teacher.
Special Olympics athletes from the Greater Knoxville Area have
competed in numerous state, regional, national and international competitions. Every two
years international competitions are held in North America and our athletes have been
there to help lead the Tennessee team to countless medals.
Knoxville has also played host the the state unified basketball
and gymnastics meets. Area V has also hosted the 2001 State Spring Games in Knoxville
including traditional basketball, roller-skating and unified basketball. This was the
second largest Special Olympics event in the history of Special Olympics in
Tennessee.
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