Special Olympics Bowling Tournament returns to Bowling Green on Saturday
Bowling Green, Ky. – More than 100 Special Olympics bowlers will return to Southern Lanes in Bowling Green on Saturday, Oct. 9, for the Special Olympics Kentucky Area 5 Bowling Tournament. Both the Area and State Bowling Tournaments were held in a remote format a year ago, making this the first true Area Bowling Tournament weekend for Special Olympics Kentucky in almost two years.
The tournament gets under way with singles competition at 9:30 am. Participants in the tournament bowl two games with total pin fall determining the winner in each division. All athletes who participate in the Area Bowling Tournament qualify to compete in the Special Olympics Kentucky State Bowling Tournament later in the year.
Some modifications have been made to limit attendance at this year’s Area Bowling Tournaments. No spectators outside of official coaches and ramp assistants who support bowlers who use ramps to compete are allowed in the facility.
The Area 5 Bowling Tournament includes Special Olympics athletes from Allen, Barren, Butler, Christian, Simpson, Trigg and Warren Counties.
Among those competing at the Area 5 Bowling Tournament will be Casey Freeman of Franklin and Brianna Goode of Glasgow, both of whom were recently selected to be part of the Team Kentucky bowling delegation that will compete at the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games next June in Orlando, Fla.
Bowling is one of the most popular sports Special Olympics Kentucky offers throughout the year, and generally draws more than 1,300 athletes statewide. The State Bowling Tournament is annually the largest individual sport competition — and second largest competition overall, behind only the State Summer Games — on the Special Olympics Kentucky calendar. This year’s State Bowling Tournament will be held remotely for the second year in row in order to produce a competitive event that is safest for our athletes and coaches.
For more information about the Area 5 Bowling Tournament or about the Special Olympics bowling program, contact Special Olympics Kentucky Program Coordinator Nick McKenzie at 502-695-8222 or via e-mail at nmckenzie@soky.org.
Special Olympics is the world’s largest program of sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Participation in competitive events is open to all individuals eight years of age or older. Training and competition in local, area, state, and national programs is offered year-round in Kentucky in 15 sports. In addition to its traditional sports competitions, Special Olympics also offers early childhood programming through the Young Athletes Program and medical screenings though the Healthy Athletes Initiative. Special Olympics Kentucky began as a one-day event in Louisville in 1970 and has expanded to serve more than 10,000 athletes statewide annually. Special Olympics celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the global movement in 2018.
