Move United Seeks Hosts for 2027–2028 Nationals

One of the largest adaptive sports events in the United States is seeking host cities for 2027 and 2028.

Move United is seeking hosts for the Hartford Nationals, which includes a youth and adult competition component. The weeklong event is staged in July on an annual basis, designed for youth, adults and masters athletes with a physical disability, visual impairment or intellectual disability.

Bids for the 2027–2028 competitions will be accepted until August 29. The event is staged on a two-year host cycle, with a goal to rotate between the West, East and Central regions. In 2021–2022, events were hosted in metro Denver, Colorado; the 2023 and 2024 events were staged in Hoover/Birmingham, Alabama; the 2025 was held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and will return again in 2026.

Host cities should have accessible venues and hotel properties, be attractive as a vacation destination, and be an affordable location for families attending the weeklong national championship event. Move United will evaluate bids based on various criteria, including accessible venues and hotel properties, experience in sport event management, support of the local community, a strong local organizing committee (LOC) with the ability to generate local event sponsorships and resources, sophisticated venues and hotel properties, and affordability of the event for participants.

The nationals date to 1957 and the junior portion of the championship is now the largest annual multisport event for young athletes with physical, visual, and/or intellectual impairments in the United States. The event is expected to attract over 400 athletes, 100 coaches, 500 volunteers, as well as families, friends, and spectators help bring the event to life. Sports contested at the event include archery, paratriathlon, para powerlifting, shooting, swimming, track and field, and wheelchair tennis. International athletes and/or teams are welcome with a dual medal system utilized.

Move United is an affiliate of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and athletes must be classifiable under the International Paralympic Committee’s classification code and must meet qualifying standards according to classification and age divisions to be eligible to compete.
To view the RFP, click here.