Statement from USABA Executive Director Mark Lucas

On June 1, Sarah Hirshland, CEO of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), wrote a strong unifying message to Olympic and Paralympic athletes. She stated, “We must do everything in our power to ensure equality promised is equality achieved.” (https://go.teamusa.org/2MExnHi). As a member organization of the USOPC, the United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) staff and Board of Directors fully concur with her statement and affirm these principles.

USABA staff and Board of Directors are fully committed to upholding our organization’s written and approved core values. These values include respect, integrity, empowerment, diversity, and inclusion for all members. These values intend to ensure our sports, programs, and activities remain a place where all people who compete and participate can come together with the unbroken promise of fairness and equality.

USABA promotes equality as an essential element of our work. We stand in solidarity in the rightful and justified request for justice and the pursuit of equality.  We are firmly committed to enacting organizational diversity and commit to non-discrimination within our organization.  In addition, we fully support reform efforts to create positive change in the wake of recent events. We stand steadfast in our dedication and commitment to the athletes and the members we serve, and we continue to enact and strive for just actions both on and off the fields and courts of play. We are open to listening to how we can improve our efforts and best address these issues.  We are one united family, we are TEAM USABA.

Respectfully,

Mark Lucas, Executive Director

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