TableofContents
EventBasics
EventSchedule
MountainSportsInformation&Schedule
SpeedskatingInformation&Schedule
3v3BasketballInformation&Schedule
FitnessClinicandSkillsInformation&Schedule
SpecialOlympicsTennesseePolicies
Meals,Travel,&Housing
WeatherPolicies
Maps
Sponsors
EventBasics
Dates
Sunday,February1st:DelegationCheck-In,MountainSportEquipmentFitting, HealthyAthletesScreenings,OpeningCeremoniespresentedbyLifepointHealth
Monday,February2nd:AlpineSkiing,Snowboarding,Speedskating,3v3Basketball, FitnessClinicandSkills,VictoryCelebration
Tuesday,February3rd:AlpineSkiing,Snowboarding,Speedskating,3v3Basketball
Locations
GatlinburgConventionCenter–234HistoricNatureTrail,GatlinburgTN37738
● DelegationCheck-In
● OpeningCeremonies,presentedbyLifepointHealth
● VictoryCelebration
● HealthyAthleteScreenings
OberMountain–1001ParkwaySuite2,GatlinburgTN37738
● AlpineSkiing
● Snowboarding
● Speedskating
RockyTopSportsWorld–1870SportsWorldBlvd,GatlinburgTN37798
● 3v3Basketball
● FitnessClinicandSkills
AssessmentInformation
HeadofDelegation-$25
● IncludesSundayDinner,MondayLunch,MondayDinner,TuesdayLunch MountainSportParticipants&Coaches-$50
● IncludesSundayDinner,MondayLunch,MondayDinner,TuesdayLunch BasketballParticipants&Coaches-$15
● IncludesSundayDinner,MondayLunch,MondayDinner,TuesdayLunch ExtraDelegates-$70
● IncludesSundayDinner,MondayLunch,MondayDinner,TuesdayLunch
Medical/EmergencyInformation
TherewillbemedicalpersonnellocatedattheEventOperationstableatbothOber MountainandRockyTopSportsWorld.AllHODswillreceiveapapercopyofthe writtenEmergencyActionPlanupondelegationcheck-in.
Incaseofemergency,pleaseimmediatelynotifyEventOperationsat(615)567-3136 and,ifnecessary,call911.
EventBasics
HealthyAthletes
HealthyAthleteswillofferthreedifferenthealthscreeningsforallathletesand Unifiedpartners.Participantsareencouragedtogothroughthescreeningsinorderto stayhealthyandcompeteatanoptimallevel.Thefollowingdisciplineswillbeoffered:
● FunFitness
● FitFeet
● SpecialSmiles
TherewillalsobeHealthpartnersandvendorssetupduringtheHealthyAthletes screeningsonSundayfordelegationstoreceivefurtherhealtheducation.
EventCommunication
AllHODsandcoacheswithvalidcellphonenumberswillbeaddedtotheeventtext chain.Alleventandnecessaryemergencyupdateswillbesentviathistextchain.Each delegationisresponsibleforgettingtheinformationsenttotheirparticipants, families,andspectators.
EquipmentRequirements
Equipmentnecessaryforcompetitionwillbeprovidedateachvenue.Allathletesand Unifiedpartnersshouldbeincompetitionappropriateattire.Jeans,cowboyboots, sandals,crocs,oranyopen-toedshoesarenotappropriateforcompetitionandcannot beworn.Allnon-medicaljewelry,includingwatches,mustberemovedduring competition.
● MountainSports:participantsmustbedressedinweather-appropriateattire andcanrentnecessaryequipmentfromthevenueifneeded.
● Speedskating:participantsmustprovidetheirownhelmetandareabletorent skatesfromthevenueifneeded.Aneckguardisprovidedwhileontheice.
● Basketball:teamsmustbeinmatchinguniformsetsfollowingtheSOTN BasketballRulesEquipmentandUniformguidelines.
Credentials
Alldelegationmemberswillbeprovidedwithcredentials.Thesecredentialswillserve asyourObermountaintrampass.Alldelegationmembersareexpectedtoalways wearthecredentials,exceptduringcompetition.
Physicals
EachHeadCoachmusthavecopiesoftheirathletes’physicalsonhand,eitherinpaper formoradigitalcopy,throughouttheentiretyoftheGames.
EventSchedule
Sunday,February1st
11:00am-5:00pm:HealthyAthletesScreenings;GatlinburgConventionCenterBallroomA
1:00pm-5:00pm:DelegationCheck-InandMountainSportsEquipmentFitting; GatlinburgConventionCenterBallroomsB-D
5:00pm:LawEnforcementTorchRunArrivalandCauldronLighting;OutsideGatlinburg ConventionCenter
5:30pm-6:30pm:Dinner;GatlinburgConventionCenterBallroomsB-D
6:45pm-7:30pm:OpeningCeremonies,presentedbyLifepointHealth;Gatlinburg ConventionCenterMillsAuditorium
7:30pm:MandatoryCoachesMeeting;GatlinburgConventionCenterBallroomsB-D
Monday,February2nd
8:00am-8:45am:TramtoOber;OberTramMall
8:00am-8:45am:BasketballTeamCheck-In;RockyTopSportsWorld
9:00am-3:00pm:BasketballPoolPlayCompetition;RockyTopSportsWorld
9:00am-1:30pm:FitnessClinicandSkills;RockyTopSportsWorld
9:15am-9:30am:TorchRelayandCauldronLighting;OberMountain
9:30am-10:00am:MountainSportEquipmentCheck-Out;OberMountain
10:00am:MountainSportsInstructionalTrainingBegins;SpeedskatingTraining Begins;OberMountain
11:00am-1:00pm:LunchWindow,asscheduleallows;CompetitionVenues
5:30pm-6:30pm:Dinner;GatlinburgConventionCenterBallroomsB-D
6:30pm-8:30pm:VictoryCelebration;GatlinburgConventionCenterMillsAuditorium
7:30pm:MandatoryCoachesMeeting;GatlinburgConventionCenterBallroomsB-D
Tuesday,February3rd
8:00am-8:45am:TramtoOber;OberTramMall
8:30am-9:00am:MountainSportEquipmentCheck-Out;OberMountain
9:00am:MountainSportsInstruction&TimeTrialsBegin;OberMountain
9:00am:StaggeredWarmupsforSpeedskating,seesport-specificschedule;Ober Mountain
9:00am-1:00pm:BasketballMedalRoundsCompetition;RockyTopSportsWorld
11:00am-1:00pm:LunchWindow,asscheduleallows;CompetitionVenues
*Awardsforeachsportwillfollowtheconclusionofeachdivision’scompetition. Participantsshouldheadstraighttoawardsfollowingtheendoftheircompetition.
MountainSportsInformation
ImportantCoachesInformation
● ThecoachesmeetingwillbeonaZoomcallscheduledforTuesday,January20, 2026,at6:00pmCentralStandardTime.Allcoachesareexpectedtoattend.
● Onlyregistereddelegationmemberswillbeallowedpastthegatesontothe snowandmountain.
● AllconcernsinvolvingcompetitionshouldbebroughttotheEventOperations Tableinside,byeithertheHODorHeadCoach.
● Ifanathletelosestheirbiborarmband,aHeadCoachshouldreport immediatelytotheEventOperationsTableforareplacement.
● Anyathletewhoisnotpresentatthestarttimeofcompetitionwill automaticallyreceiveaParticipationMedal.
● DivisionsarecreatedaccordingtotheTimeTrialsthattakeplaceonTuesday morning;eachathletewillraceonefinaltimeineacheventTuesdayafterlunch forfinalcompetition.
● AlldelegationmembersarerequiredtoparkbelowattheOberTramMalland ridethetramtoOberMountain.TherewillbeNOparkingupatOberMountain.
● LunchwillbeprovidedintheRestaurantforregisteredmembersofthe delegationonly.Therewillbeconcessionsavailableifneeded.
MountainSportsSchedule
Sunday,February1st
11:00am-5:00pm:HealthyAthletesScreenings;GatlinburgConventionCenterBallroomA
1:00pm-5:00pm:DelegationCheck-InandMountainSportsEquipmentFitting; GatlinburgConventionCenterBallroomsB-D
5:00pm:LawEnforcementTorchRunArrivalandCauldronLighting;OutsideGatlinburg ConventionCenter
5:30pm-6:30pm:Dinner;GatlinburgConventionCenterBallroomsB-D
6:45pm-7:30pm:OpeningCeremonies,presentedbyLifepointHealth;Gatlinburg ConventionCenterMillsAuditorium
7:30pm:MandatoryCoachesMeeting;GatlinburgConventionCenterBallroomsB-D
Monday,February2nd
8:00am-8:45am:TramtoOber;OberTramMall
9:15am-9:30am:TorchRelayandCauldronLighting;OberMountain
9:30am-10:00am:MountainSportEquipmentCheck-Out;OberMountain
10:00am:MountainSportsInstructionalTrainingBegins;OberMountain
11:00am-1:00pm:LunchWindow,asscheduleallows;CompetitionVenues
5:30pm-6:30pm:Dinner;GatlinburgConventionCenterBallroomsB-D
6:30pm-8:30pm:VictoryCelebration;GatlinburgConventionCenterMillsAuditorium
7:30pm:MandatoryCoachesMeeting;GatlinburgConventionCenterBallroomsB-D
Tuesday,February3rd
8:00am-8:45am:TramtoOber;OberTramMall
8:30am-9:00am:MountainSportEquipmentCheck-Out;OberMountain
9:00am:MountainSportsInstruction&TimeTrialsBegin;OberMountain
11:00am-1:00pm:LunchWindow,asscheduleallows;CompetitionVenues
1:00pm:FinalCompetitionBegins;OberMountain
*Awardsforeachsportwillfollowtheconclusionofeachdivision’scompetition. Participantsshouldheadstraighttoawardsfollowingtheendoftheircompetition.
SpeedskatingInformation
ImportantCoachesInformation
● ThecoachesmeetingwillbeonaZoomcallscheduledforTuesday,January20, 2026,at6:00pmCentralStandardTime.Allcoachesareexpectedtoattend.
● AllconcernsinvolvingcompetitionshouldbebroughttotheEventOperations Tableinside,byeithertheHODorHeadCoach.
● Ifanathletelosestheirbib,aHeadCoachshouldreportimmediatelytothe EventOperationsTableforareplacement.
● Anyathletewhoisnotpresentatthestarttimeofcompetition,will automaticallyreceiveaParticipationMedal.
● DivisionsarecreatedaccordingtotheTimeTrialsthattakeplaceonMonday afternoon;eachathletewillraceonefinaltimeineacheventTuesdayafter lunchforfinalcompetition.
● AlldelegationmembersarerequiredtoparkbelowattheOberTramMalland ridethetramtoOberMountain.TherewillbeNOparkingupatOberMountain.
● LunchwillbeprovidedintheRestaurantforregisteredmembersofthe delegationonly.Therewillbeconcessionsavailableifneeded.
SpeedskatingSchedule
Sunday,February1st
11:00am-5:00pm:HealthyAthletesScreenings;GatlinburgConventionCenterBallroomA
1:00pm-5:00pm:DelegationCheck-In;GatlinburgConventionCenterBallroomsB-D
5:00pm:LawEnforcementTorchRunArrivalandCauldronLighting;OutsideGatlinburg ConventionCenter
5:30pm-6:30pm:Dinner;GatlinburgConventionCenterBallroomsB-D
6:45pm-7:30pm:OpeningCeremonies,presentedbyLifepointHealth;Gatlinburg ConventionCenterMillsAuditorium
7:30pm:MandatoryCoachesMeeting;GatlinburgConventionCenterBallroomsB-D
Monday,February2nd
8:00am-8:45am:TramtoOber;OberTramMall
9:15am-9:30am:TorchRelayandCauldronLighting;OberMountain
10:00am-11:00am:Warmupsfor25MAssisted&50MAssistedEvents;OberMountainIce Rink
11:00am-12:00pm:Warmupsfor25M,50M,100M,&200MEvents;OberMountainIce Rink
11:00am-1:00pm:LunchWindow,asscheduleallows;CompetitionVenues
1:00pm-2:30pm:TimeTrialsfor25MAssistedand50MAssistedEvents;OberIceRink
2:30pm-4:00pm:TimeTrialsfor25M,50M,100M,and200MEvents;OberIceRink
5:30pm-6:30pm:Dinner;GatlinburgConventionCenterBallroomsB-D
6:30pm-8:30pm:VictoryCelebration;GatlinburgConventionCenterMillsAuditorium
7:30pm:MandatoryCoachesMeeting;GatlinburgConventionCenterBallroomsB-D
Tuesday,February3rd
8:00am-8:45am:TramtoOber;OberTramMall
9:00am-9:45am:Warmupsfor100Mand200MEvents;OberMountainIceRink
9:45am-10:30am:Warmupsfor25Mand50MEvents;OberMountainIceRink
10:30am-11:15am:Warmupsfor25MAssistedand50MAssistedEvents;OberMountain IceRink
11:00am-1:00pm:LunchWindow,asscheduleallows;CompetitionVenues
12:30pm-1:30pm:Competitionfor25M,100M,50M,and200MEvents,inthatorder; OberMountainIceRink
1:30pm-3:30pm:Competitionfor25MAssistedand50MAssistedEvents,inthatorder; OberMountainIceRink
*Awardsforeachsportwillfollowtheconclusionofeachdivision’scompetition. Participantsshouldheadstraighttoawardsfollowingtheendoftheircompetition.
3v3BasketballInformation
ImportantCoachesInformation
● ThecoachesmeetingwillbeonaZoomcallscheduledforTuesday,January20, 2026,at6:00pmCentralStandardTime.Allcoachesareexpectedtoattend.
● AllconcernsinvolvingcompetitionshouldbebroughttotheEventOperations Table,byeithertheHODorHeadCoach.
● Anyteamwhoisnotpresentatthestarttimeofcompetitionwillhavea 5-minutegraceperiodbeforethegameisforfeited.
● Seedingforbracketplaywillbedeterminedbasedonpoolplayresultsfrom Monday.BracketswillbeemailedonMondayeveningtocoachesandpostedon thewebsite.BracketplaywillbeonTuesday.
● Lunchwillbeprovidedinthecafeteriaareaforregisteredmembersofthe delegationonly.Therewillbeconcessionsavailableifneeded.
● WhileeveryeffortwillbemadetokeeptraditionalandUnifiedcompetition separate,theGamesCommitteereservestherighttocrossdivisionsif necessary.
● AllteamsarerequiredtostopbytheEventOperationsTableeachmorningto checkin.
● Teamswillbeallowedtowarmupontheirnextgame’scourtbeforethegame.
● Eachgamewillconsistoftwoten-minutehalveswitharunningclockexcept duringthefinalminuteofeachhalf.Therewillbea2-minutehalftime.
● TheSOTNOfficialBasketballRuleswillgoverncompetition.
3v3BasketballSchedule
Sunday,February1st
11:00am-5:00pm:HealthyAthletesScreenings;GatlinburgConventionCenterBallroomA
1:00pm-5:00pm:DelegationCheck-In;GatlinburgConventionCenterBallroomsB-D
5:00pm:LawEnforcementTorchRunArrivalandCauldronLighting;OutsideGatlinburg ConventionCenter
5:30pm-6:30pm:Dinner;GatlinburgConventionCenterBallroomsB-D
6:45pm-7:30pm:OpeningCeremonies,presentedbyLifepointHealth;Gatlinburg ConventionCenterMillsAuditorium
7:30pm:MandatoryCoachesMeeting;GatlinburgConventionCenterBallroomsB-D
Monday,February2nd
8:00am-8:45am:BasketballTeamCheck-In;RockyTopSportsWorld
9:00am-3:00pm:BasketballPoolPlayCompetition;RockyTopSportsWorld
11:00am-1:00pm:LunchWindow,asscheduleallows;CompetitionVenues
5:30pm-6:30pm:Dinner;GatlinburgConventionCenterBallroomsB-D
6:30pm-8:30pm:VictoryCelebration;GatlinburgConventionCenterMillsAuditorium
7:30pm:MandatoryCoachesMeeting;GatlinburgConventionCenterBallroomsB-D
Tuesday,February3rd
8:00am-8:45am:BasketballTeamCheck-In;RockyTopSportsWorld
9:00am-1:00pm:BasketballMedalRoundsCompetition;RockyTopSportsWorld
11:00am-1:00pm:LunchWindow,asscheduleallows;CompetitionVenues
*Awardsforeachsportwillfollowtheconclusionofeachdivision’scompetition. Participantsshouldheadstraighttoawardsfollowingtheendoftheircompetition.
FitnessClinicandSkillsInformation
TheFitnessClinicandSkillsprogramatWinterGamesintroducesFitnessasaSport,a newandexcitingsportopportunitywithinSOTN,toathletesandcoaches. FitnessasaSportisanewinitiativethatelevatesathleticperformance,promotes overallhealth,buildsconfidence,anddrivessportsmanshipwithintheSpecial OlympicsTennesseecommunity.
TheFitnessClinic(Classroom)isdesignedtoeducateathletesandcoachesaboutthe newsportofFitness.Duringthisportion,coacheswillcoverthehistoryofthesportin Tennessee,rulesandregulations,competitionstandards,fitnessopportunities,and growthplans.Duringthisportion,athleteswillengageinFitnessCaptaintrainingand skillssotheycanbeknowledgeableinthesport,learnstrategiesaroundpre-and post-workoutrecovery,andbecomealeaderwithintheircommunityaround competitionandsportspractices.
TheFitnessClinicwillincludehands-onexperiencewitheachFitnessevent.Athletes andcoacheswillhavetheopportunitytodiveinandrunthrougheacheventata learningpace,pausingoftenforfeedbackanddiscussion.
FitnessSkills(PracticalImplementation)iswhereweputitalltogether.Theathlete willgoliveandcompleteallsixfitnessevents.Thiswillbeanopportunityforathletes tolearntheirbaselinescores.Duringthisportion,thecoacheswillgoliveandfunction ascoachesfortheathletes.Thisvaluablehands-onexperiencewillserveboththe athleteandcoachastheyworkalongsidethestatestafftogrowFitnessasasport acrossthestateandcountry.
FitnessClinicandSkillsSchedule
Monday,February2nd
9:00am-10:00am:FitnessCoachandFitnessCaptainTraining&Certification;RockyTop SportsWorld
10:00am-11:15am:FitnessClinic;RockyTopSportsWorld
11:45am-1:00pm:FitnessSkills;RockyTopSportsWorld
1:00pm-1:30pm:Wrap-upandCertificateAwarding;RockyTopSportsWorld
SpecialOlympicsTennesseePolicies
Alcohol&SmokePolicy
Thereisabsolutelynoconsumptionofalcoholbeveragesorsmoking,vaping,chewing oruseoftobaccoproductsallowedatanytimeduringaSpecialOlympicsevent.
Pool&HotTubPolicy
Allrecreationalswimminginpoolsorhottubsisstrictlyprohibitedwhileparticipating inanySpecialOlympicsevent,includingtraveltoandfromthatevent.
15-PassengerVanPolicy
SpecialOlympicsprohibitstheuseof15-passengervansfortransportationtoand fromanySpecialOlympicsevent.
ClassAForms
Allcoaches,Unifiedpartnersovertheageof18,andanyothermembersthattravel withthedelegationmustsubmitaClassAform.
CoachingRequirements
Coachesneedtobeuptodateonthefollowing:
● ClassA
● ProtectiveBehaviors
● ConcussionTraining
● CoachingSpecialOlympicsAthletes
● UnifiedTraining(ifapplicable)
● Sport-SpecificTraining
Meals,Travel,&Housing
Meals
Mealswillbeprovidedforallregistereddelegatesforspecificmeals.Thosemealsare Sundaydinner,MondayLunch,MondayDinner,andTuesdayLunch.Delegationsare responsibleforallbreakfastmeals.
Travel
Programsareresponsibleforalltravelarrangementsandexpensesfortheir delegationstoandfromtheGames.PleasenotifyNathanielandJeffifanypartofthe delegationisrunninglateatanytimetotheGames.
Housing
TheGlenstoneLodgeisthepreferredhotelfortheGames.DelegationsareNOT requiredtostaythere.Roomrateshavebeennegotiatedfordoublesandqueens. Unlikeinyearspast,theStateOfficewillnotbepayingfordelegationroomsandwill besendingthechargesviaassessment.EachareamusthaveONEpersonto coordinateroomsfortheentiredelegation,callthesalesofficeat(865)277-8602and bookroomsunderourroomblock.
WeatherPolicies
HeatPolicy
SOTN’sheatpolicyisdeterminedbytheWetBulbGlobeTemperature(WBGT).WBGT considersambienttemperature,humidity,windspeed,sunangle,directsunlight,and cloudcover.
WetBulbGloveTemperaturePolicy
● LocatedinCategory3,SOTNwillutilizethechartbelowfordecision-making.
● OncetheThreatLevelhasreachedExtreme,allcompetitionwillimmediately bestopped,andanevacuationwillbeprompted.
ColdPolicy
Coldexposureisanunavoidablepartofsports,especiallywiththosethatparticipate inoutdoorsportsduringthefallandwintermonths.Thefollowingguidelineswillbe usedinplanningactivitiesdependingonwind-chilltemperature.
● 30Fahrenheitandbelow:Beawareofthepotentialforcoldinjury.
● 25Fahrenheitandbelow:Additionalprotectiveclothing,coveringasmuch exposedskinaspractical.Accesstofacilitiesforre-warmingprovided.
● 20Fahrenheitandbelow:TheGamesCommitteewillassessthesituationasthe temperaturedrops.Thecommitteewillensurethatathletes’healthandsafety isattheforefrontofanydecisionmaderegardingcoldtemperatures.
WeatherPolicies
LightningPolicy
● Lightningwithin10mileswillimmediatelystopcompetitionandpromptan evacuationofthefacility.
● A30-minutetimerstartsonceplayhasbeensuspended;thetimerresetsevery timeanewstrikeoccurswithin10miles.Oncethetimerreacheszero,teams, coaches,spectators,officials&employeeswillbeinstructedtore-enterthe facilitytoresumecompetitionassoonaspossible.
● Notalllightningthatisvisuallylocatediscloseenoughtopromptastoppage ofplayandevacuationofthefacility.
Oneairhornblastsignifiesimmediate evacuationtosafespaces.Twoairhornblasts signifyresumptionofcompetition.
Maps
GatlinburgConventionCenter
Sponsors Partners
