The eight-day competition is expected to draw 4,000 athletes, 1,000 coaches, and more than 100,000 visitors to Music City
Nashville has been selected to host the 2034 Special Olympics USA Games, bringing what organizers expect to be the largest inclusive sporting event in the city's history to a region better known for country music than competitive athletics.
The announcement was made on October 29, 2025 — the earliest a host city has ever been named in the event's history. The eight-day competition is scheduled for late June 2034.
The Scale of the Event
The Games will bring approximately 4,000 athletes and 1,000 coaches from all 50 states to Nashville, with between 100,000 and 125,000 family members and fans also expected to attend.
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Read more →Eighteen sports are on the schedule, including basketball and volleyball. Organizers are also considering adding a new “legacy event” called Train 4 Life — a fitness competition modeled after the CrossFit Games format.
Local officials estimate the event will generate roughly $100 million for the Middle Tennessee economy.
Who's Hosting and Where
The bid was a joint effort between the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville, and Vanderbilt University.
Vanderbilt will serve as the central hub, providing athletic facilities, campus spaces, and dormitory housing for athletes. The Music City Center is planned as the venue for basketball and volleyball, and Bridgestone Arena — where the official announcement ceremony was held — is among the broader group of stakeholders supporting the Games.
A Commitment to Accessibility
Mayor Freddie O'Connell has pledged a series of long-term infrastructure improvements ahead of 2034. Plans include expanding WeGo Access paratransit services and introducing a “journey pass” designed to make public transit more inclusive.
The Mayor's Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities is expected to spend the coming years identifying improvements to Nashville's streets, sidewalks, and public spaces to ensure the city is fully accessible by the time athletes arrive.
Notable Supporters
Nashville's successful bid drew endorsements from several high-profile Tennessee figures, including comedian Nate Bargatze, country artists Lainey Wilson and Lauren Daigle, and Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton, who serves as a Special Olympics Alumni Ambassador.
