Salt Lake’s Growing Adaptive Community
Sports inspire connection, competition, and community, and in Salt Lake, that impact continues to grow in meaningful ways. Salt Lake County and Sports Salt Lake are building on that momentum by expanding inclusive tourism through adaptive sports, creating opportunities for individuals of all abilities to participate, connect, and experience everything the region has to offer.
This effort goes beyond simply hosting events. Sports Salt Lake is actively working to attract adaptive competitions, support event organizers, and connect them with venues and local resources that ensure success. With accessible facilities like the Regional Athletic Complex, Maverik Center, America First Field, and both the Salt Palace Convention Center and Mountain America Exposition Center, Salt Lake continues to establish itself as a premier, inclusive sports destination.
Events such as the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, USA Parafencing North American Cup, Move United USA Wheelchair Football, IFSC Paraclimbing World Cup, and the National Deaf Disc Golf Championships not only showcase the versatility of these venues, but also celebrate the athletes and organizations that define the spirit of inclusion, resilience, and competition. These events bring energy to the community while reinforcing Salt Lake’s reputation as a place where everyone has a seat at the table, and a place to play
2025 IFSC Paraclimbing World Cup – Momentum Indoor Climbing Fort
Salt Lake’s commitment to adaptive sports doesn’t stop at large-scale events, it’s woven into the fabric of the community. Across the county, a growing network of programs and organizations is creating consistent, year-round access to adaptive recreation.
Salt Lake County offers a wide range of adaptive programs designed to meet individuals where they are, while organizations like Wasatch Adaptive Sports, founded in 1977, have long been leaders in creating opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to stay active and engaged. These programs play a critical role in building confidence, fostering independence, and strengthening community connections.
A major milestone in this effort is the Adaptive Arena, which opened in 2023 with a clear vision: to create a space where athletes of all abilities can play, compete, and belong. Purpose-built for accessibility, the facility includes specialized equipment like in-house sports wheelchairs, sensory-friendly features such as rattle pods in balls, and textured court surfaces. From boccia and baseball to volleyball, pickleball, cheer, and dodgeball, the variety of programming ensures that participation is not only possible, but exciting and inclusive for all.
Accessibility
Inclusivity in Salt Lake extends far beyond the field of play. In 2023, Visit Salt Lake earned designation as a Certified Autism Center through IBCCES, signaling a strong, region-wide commitment to accessibility and awareness for individuals on the autism spectrum and those with sensory sensitivities.
This commitment is reflected throughout the entire visitor experience. Hospitality partners across the region are trained in accessibility best practices. While thoughtful additions, like the sensory room at Salt Lake City International Airport, help create a more welcoming and comfortable travel experience.
As IBCCES Board Chairman Myron Pincomb shared, “We are delighted to join forces with Visit Salt Lake as they bolster their commitment to accessibility, ensuring that a wider range of travelers can revel in a fantastic experience when exploring the Salt Lake area.”
Accessibility also extends to how people move throughout the city. The Utah Transit Authority provides a fully accessible public transportation system, with accommodations for wheelchairs and mobility devices, along with visual and audio support features for blind, deaf, and hearing-impaired individuals. Paratransit services further expand access, ensuring that transportation is not a barrier to participation.
Together, these efforts reflect a bigger picture: Salt Lake is not just improving accessibility, it’s building a destination where inclusion is intentionally designed into every step of the experience.
To read more about accessibility in Salt Lake: Click Here.
The Playeasy Warmup – Hosted by Kerri Shields with Glenn Merry (CEO at Move United)
Industry Leaders Weigh In
As Playeasy and Sports Salt Lake continue growing their partnership and creating new opportunities within the sports tourism industry, the momentum behind adaptive sports is also being recognized nationwide. In the Playeasy Warmup Podcast, Kerri Shields, Co-Founder and CEO of Playeasy, sits down with Glenn Merry, CEO of Move United, to explore how adaptive sports are expanding across the U.S. and transforming lives in the process.
A key takeaway from the conversation with Kerri, is that adaptive sports are about so much more than competition. They are rooted in access, inclusion, and building a strong sense of community. What was once seen as a niche space is quickly evolving into something more structured and visible, with real pathways for athletes from entry level participation all the way to elite competition. That growth is being driven by a stronger understanding of the need and the demand, along with a collective effort to keep pushing forward, as highlighted in the conversation, “…elevating what the entire community is doing and we’re introducing new sports…”.
The discussion also highlights the importance of broadening how adaptive sports are understood. While often associated with physical disabilities, adaptive sports encompass a much wider range of needs, including visual, sensory, and psychological. Rather than creating entirely new sports, the focus is on adapting existing ones, through equipment, environment, and thoughtful design, to ensure that more individuals can participate.
To listen to the full Podcast: Click Here
2022 Move United USAWFL – Salt Palace Convention Center
Ultimately, Salt Lake’s continued growth in adaptive sports is driven by collaboration, education, and intentional design. True accessibility goes beyond ADA compliance and considers the full athlete journey, from arrival and entry to the competition environment and overall experience. At its core, adaptive sports foster confidence, independence, and a strong sense of identity, creating a lasting impact on both athletes and the broader community.
2024 National Veterans Golden Age Games – Many Venues Across Salt Lake County
