ROCKVILLE, Md.—Move United, an organization for community-based sports and recreation for those with disabilities, was awarded the 2024 Rings of Gold Award by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, presented in Colorado Springs at the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Assembly.
The Rings of Gold award recognizes people or organizations dedicated to helping children develop and reach their highest potential, as well as helping them along their Olympic or Paralympic dreams. Move United was recognized for its Sanctioned Competitions, the largest adaptive sports network of competitive opportunities in the U.S. About 2,311 adaptive athletes of all ages and performance levels participated in 34 multi-sport competitions in 24 different states this year, including disabled veterans, youth, and Paralympians.
“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,” Move United executive director Glenn Merry said. “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.”
About 62 percent of the Team USA athletes who competed in the 2024 Paralympic games began their journey with Move United’s programs and competitions. With a membership network of 240 organizations across 45 states and the District of Columbia, Move United aims to be accessible to 90 percent of the U.S. population when the Paralympics take place in L.A. in 2028.
