The United States Association of Blind Athletes is pleased to announce that Turnstone Center for Children and Adults with Disabilities and the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana will partner to host the 2016 USABA Goalball National Championships. The tournament is set to take place June 23-25, 2016 and will welcome top teams from across the United States.
“Turnstone and the Fort Wayne community have an established reputation as outstanding hosts of many previous international and national-level athletic competitions,” said John Potts, USABA National Goalball Program Manager. “While relatively new members of the Goalball community, Turnstone and the Fort Wayne community have an amazing passion for sport and athletes. Not only have they embraced us to host our 2016 National Championships, they’ve signed-on to be part of the future success of USA Goalball.”
Turnstone is also home to the newly established Center for Excellence Goalball Resident Program where the first group of 6 elite Goalball athletes will live and train in preparation for the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games and future international competitions.
“We are excited to be working with our partners-the United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) and Visit Fort Wayne to bring the 2016 USABA Goalball National Championships to Turnstone and Fort Wayne. This partnership will be a great chance to introduce a new sport to the city and will provide an opportunity to showcase Turnstone’s newly established designation, by USABA, as a National Goalball Center for Excellence This tournament will feature elite level athletes, some whom will represent Team USA at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio De Janeiro. We will be thrilled to welcome them to our community,” said Turnstone CEO Mike Mushett.
The tournament is set to take place June 23-25, 2016. Additional tournament information will be available on the USABA and Turnstone websites when tournament registration opens in Spring 2016.
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About Turnstone Center
Founded in 1943, Turnstone empowers people with disabilities by maximizing their independence. The agency’s mission is to provide therapeutic, educational, wellness and recreational programs to empower people with disabilities, and it is the only not-for-profit in the region that offers a full range of programs and facilities designed to meet the unique needs of people with disabilities.
About U.S. Association of Blind Athletes
Since its founding in 1976, USABA, a community-based organization of the United States Olympic Committee, has reached more than 100,000 blind individuals. The organization has emerged as more than just a world-class trainer of blind athletes, it has become a champion of the abilities of Americans who are legally blind. USABA’s mission: to enhance the lives of blind and visually impaired people by providing the opportunity for participation in sports and physical activity. www.usaba.org | Twitter: @USABA1 | Facebook: United States Association of Blind Athletes
Media Contacts:
Courtney Patterson
cpatterson@usaba.org
719.866.3222
Kenna Davis
Kenna@turnstone.org
260.969.7669