小猪视频

Skip to main content

CIU joins with Special Olympics to celebrate pickleball

Eyes on the pickleball! Dr. James Whitaker teams up with Special Olympics to learn pickleball. (Photo by Kierston Smith)

April 28, 2023

By Bob Holmes

鈥淭hanks to Special Olympics in South Carolina. You rock!鈥 Shouted a athlete after learning a new sport in CIU鈥檚 Moore Fitness Center 鈥 pickleball.

To celebrate in April, CIU hosted the pickleball clinic for Special Olympic athletes. Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in America, described as a combination of tennis and ping pong, using small paddles and a Whiffle ball, and played on what is similar to a miniature tennis court.

A dozen Special Olympic athletes joined with CIU student volunteers who coached the athletes on the sport.

鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to find ways that our students in the Sport Management major can get involved with Special Olympics because what they do is so awesome,鈥 said Program Director . 鈥淚t brings so much joy to everybody.鈥

Sport Management major Lauren Baker, a senior, was among the CIU students who assisted.

鈥淚 actually enjoyed it too,鈥 Baker told ABC Columbia News. 鈥淚 learned a lot of the rules. So, it鈥檚 definitely something I want to do moving forward.鈥

Providing much of the instruction was the nonprofit from Greenville, South Carolina. Founder Sandy Halkett says the goal is to travel South Carolina introducing Pickleball to Special Olympic athletes.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to grow this into a Special Olympic sport and take it as far as they will let us take it,鈥 Halkett said. 听

See more about the event in from ABC Columbia Reporter .听听

What can you do with a degree from CIU? .

CIU is celebrating 100 years of its mission to 鈥渆ducate people from a biblical worldview to impact the nations with the message of Christ.鈥 The university consistently ranks among the Top Regional Universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report, as well as a Best Value Regional University in the South.听or request information on enrollment by contacting Admissions at (803) 807-5024 or听admissions@ciu.edu.听听听听

Explore听
Degree Programs
BUSINESS听听听听听听
& MANAGEMENT
EDUCATION听听听听听听
& TEACHING
HEALTH SCIENCES听听听听听听
& NURSING
PSYCHOLOGY听听听听听听
& COUNSELING

Are you ready to transform your life?