The award recognized Move United’s Sanctioned Competitions, the largest adaptive sports network of competitive opportunities in the United States. This year 2,311 adaptive athletes of all ages and performance levels, including youth, Paralympians, and disabled veterans, competed in 34 multisport competitions held in 24 states.
“Move United is excited to be recognized for driving growth, impact, and the reach that these sanctioned competitions have for people with disabilities in this country,” said Glenn Merry, executive director. “This past year, our network expanded, adding eight new competitions. The growth resulted in an overall participation increase by 50 percent. For many aspiring athletes, this network is the entry point to future world-class performances as Team USA’s next generation.”
Move United Sanctioned Competitions are driving growth of adaptive sports competitions across the United States, providing competitive opportunities and helping to identify the next generation of Paralympic athletes for Team USA.
“Sixty-two percent of the Team USA athletes that competed at the 2024 Paralympic games began their Paralympic journey with Move United’s community-based programs or competitions and a similar percentage was true for the athletes that represented the country at the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo,” Merry said.
Move United Sanctioned Competitions are sanctioned by both Move United and applicable National Governing Bodies for the sports being contested. The sanction represents a commitment to follow national and, when applicable, international rules and to provide a safe, positive environment for athletes and coaches, officials and volunteers, and spectators.
All the events serve as a qualifier for The Hartford Nationals conducted by Move United, the largest and longest-standing national sport championship event for athletes with a physical disability, visual impairment, or intellectual disability. 2024 marked the 67th year for the competition.
Move United, an Affiliate of the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee, has a goal of being accessible to 90 percent of the US population when the Paralympics returns to California in 2028.
