This year, individuals with disabilities will have more opportunities to participate in organized competition than ever before.
Move United, the nation’s largest network of community-based adaptive sports and recreation organizations, has released its sanctioned competitions schedule for 2024. It includes 35 sanctioned competitions in 24 states. Collectively, these events are expected to attract more than 2,000 adaptive athletes of all ages and performance levels, including first-time participants, Paralympic-caliber athletes, and warfighters.
Move United Sanctioned Competitions are among the best adaptive multi-sport competitive events in the United States. They are sanctioned both by Move United and by applicable National Governing Bodies (NGBs). This sanction represents a commitment to follow national and/or international rules and to provide a safe, positive environment for participants, volunteers, officials, coaches, and spectators.
The season kicks off on March 2 with the Tri-State Regional Swim Meet in Piscataway, New Jersey, and concludes on October 5 with the GUMBO State Governor’s Games in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Each event serves as a qualifier for The Hartford Nationals conducted by Move United, which is scheduled to take place July 12-18, 2024, in Hoover, Alabama.
Move United Sanctioned Competitions are an integral part of Move United’s community-based adaptive sports movement, committed to leaving no one on the sidelines. Last year, 26 competitions were held in 22 states, so this year’s schedule represents a 35 percent increase in the number of sporting events offered, with two additional states added into the mix. Last year, 1,537 individual athletes, including 201 military veterans, competed in Move United Sanctioned Competitions involving 15 different sports. Those numbers are also expected to increase.
“Competition develops the dedication, self-confidence, and resilience that translate to all areas of athlete’s lives,” says Glenn Merry, Move United’s executive director. “We are excited to see the number of opportunities continue to grow across the country.”
For more information and a complete list of this year’s sanctioned competitions, visit moveunitedsport.org/events/sanctioned-competitions.