The winter special Olympics are being held once again at Ober Gatlinburg just a short drive from Downtown Pigeon Forge. The special Olympics at Ober will feature athletes competing in several sports . Athletes will be broken up based on age and ability according to the Ober website. Visitors can cheer athletes on as they compete for personal best scores and for gold medals.
Onlookers can come to Ober on January 31, 2011 through February 1, 2011 to cheer on some amazing athletes as they take to the slopes for a couple days of competitive fun. Festivities start at 9am with the lighting of the special Olympics flame which will take place at the top of the Ober Gatlinburg facilities. Once the flame lighting commences, athletes will take to the slopes. Competitions will include speed skating, alpine skiing, and snowboarding. Friends and family will have spots designated for cheering for athletes.
Guests of the event can take a courtesy aerial tramway ride up to Ober Gatlinburg and will be able to watch the athletes compete while enjoying all of the great features of the Ober grounds. Food is available at the restaurant, a video game arcade will be open, and guests will have plenty of spots to sit in between competitions.
Once the games are over the special Olympics event will end with an award ceremony which will take place at 2:00pm. 140 total athletes with intellectual disabilities are expected to compete in this special Olympics event.
Visitors to the event can also try out Ober’s newest snow attraction wh ich is the snow tubing lanes. Sessions on the snow tubes are an hour and a half long and cost a total of $20 per person. Guests under 6 years of age must ride with an adult and children under 3 are not allowed on the tubes. Just imagine grabbing a cup of hot chocolate at the restaurant at Ober and meandering out to watch as an athlete snags his first gold. Then you take the family inside and play a few video games. Then it’s time for snow tubing! You take the kids and you pair off, boys against girls. In natural form the girls take the lead in the first round. But the second round goes to the boys. Who wins? Let us know.
If you liked reading about this you may also enjoy reading about Pigeon Forge’s Annual Saddle Up! event and you may also need a Pigeon Forge cabin rental.
