LOUDON — The Tellico Village Pickleball Club will once again combine friendly competition with community spirit this spring as it hosts a weekend of events benefiting Special Olympics Tennessee.
Taking place April 17-20, the multi-day event will feature athlete training, tournament play, and a community celebration — all designed to raise funds and awareness for the organization while also highlighting the welcoming, philanthropic culture of Tellico Village residents.
“Our partnership with Special Olympics Tennessee has become one of the most
meaningful traditions for our club,” Gordon Young with the Tellico Village Pickleball Club said. “It’s a wonderful way to celebrate the athletes, bring our community together and support a truly inspiring organization.”
Event organizers expect strong participation from both residents and visiting
players, with proceeds from the weekend supporting Special Olympics Tennessee programs that empower athletes with intellectual disabilities through sports, training and competition.
The last time the pickleball club held an event for Special Olympics Tennessee, they raised $38,000 for charitable causes and drew 180 participants from seven states, who played in nearly 600 games over two days.
Special Olympics Athlete Training and Competition
The festivities will begin on Friday, April 17, at the Wellness Center courts on Dohi Drive.
From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., up to 60 special olympics athletes will participate in pickleball training and competition. The celebratory atmosphere will include food and beverages for the participants.
Tellico Village Pickleball Tournament
From April 18-19, the Tellico Village Pickleball Tournament will take place at the Wellness Courts.
The tournament will last from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both Saturday (April 18) and Sunday (April 19).
The tournament will feature players not only from Tellico Village and the state of Tennessee, but also players from neighboring states as well.
The players in the tournament are divided into multiple brackets and divisions based on skill, age, and gender.
PB&J: Pickleball and Jam Celebration Fundraiser
On Monday, April 20, a celebratory evening featuring live music, auctions, food, and an open will be held at The Yacht Club at Tellico Village.
The Pickleball and Jam Celebration will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. that evening.
As previously stated, all the proceeds from the Monday evening event will benefit Special Olympics Tennessee.
For more information about the action-packed pickleball weekend, you can contact Melanie Russell via her e-mail, mrussell@fletchercomms.com.
