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Ober Gatlinburg ready for Special Olympics Winter Games

The games kicked off Sunday night with an opening ceremony at the Gatlinburg Convention Center. Competitions in speed skating, alpine skiing and snowboarding will be held on Tuesday.

Ober is hosting the Tennessee Special Olympics Winter Games for the 33rd year. More than 200 athletes and coaches gathered at the opening ceremony at the Gatlinburg Convention Center on Sunday.

Athletes there said they look forward to camaraderie and competition.

"This is kind of like a second family," Keke Hinds, a speed skater from Nashville, said. "I love it."

Monday will be a warm up day for the athletes. On Tuesday, competitions will be held in speed skating, alpine skiing and snowboarding.

Hinds is a veteran on the Davidson County squad and is excited for some of her friends to experience her favorite parts of the games.

"The victory dance, that's one of them, the competitions, and then going back home Wednesday morning," Hinds said. "But just being here at this present moment, this is the only thing I'm worrying about... We'll worry about the rest later."

Last year's Winter Games were canceled because of a rainy forecast, but this year the forecast for Monday and Tuesday are clear, and organizers say they're ready.

"We're so excited to have a proper winter," Kate Barido, director of sales and marketing at Ober Gatlinburg, said. "We've had several nights that I've been down that have been down in the teens, which is really great for snowmaking. Basically, it allows us to provide a really great ski surface for all of our guests."

Over 14,000 athletes participate in Special Olympics Tennessee, which provides year-round training and competition opportunities in 19 sports for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

More than 200 athletes are expected to participate in this year's games.

"To me, it's not about winning, it's just about doing the best at what you can do," Hinds said.

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