FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Fort Wayne will become the first American city to host a Paralympic qualifying tournament next summer.
The International Blind Sports Federation formally announced the Summit City as site of the 2019 Goalball and Judo Paralympic Qualifying Competition during a news conference Tuesday at the Grand Wayne Center, which along with Turnstone and Indiana Tech will hold the events. The Top 3 individuals in each judo weight class, as well as the Top 3 teams in goalball will advance to the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
“We’re very excited at the fact that that an international event, a Paralympic qualifying event, will be held right here in Fort Wayne,” Dan O’Connell, president & CEO of Visit Fort Wayne, says. “What goes off the Richter scale is the global prestige of having an event like this.”
Visit Fort Wayne officials joined Turnstone leaders and the City of Fort Wayne officials to present a bid to the United States Association of Blind Athletes. The competition, which runs June 30 to July 10, 2019, will feature judo at the Grand Wayne Center and goalball at Turnstone’s Plassman Athletic Center and at Indiana Tech. Fort Wayne beat out 15 other cities, O'Connell says.
“My goal as an athlete is to make everyone in Fort Wayne proud of me,” Christella Garcia, 2016 Paralympic judo bronze medalist, says. “Everybody’s so friendly. They make you feel like you’re family. They talk to you by name. They’re excited to hear about your competition and how you’ve done. And it’s just so amazing to have that backing." Garcia, from Sacramento, also is an experienced goalball player.
USABA’s relationship with Turnstone dates back more than 20 years, when executive director Mike Lucas met Turnstone CEO Mike Mushett, who was part of the U.S. Olympic Committee.
“The United States Association of Blind Athletes has a wonderful relationship with Turnstone,” Lucas says. “Our relationship is even further-enhanced by bringing this competition to Fort Wayne.”
When the U.S. goalball program needed an athletic facility, the Plassman Center became a desired home that brought goalball to Fort Wayne. Over the last 3 years, the national men’s and women’s goalball programs have moved to Fort Wayne. Throw in the goalball nationals this weekend, and it is evident the goalball footprint has greatly expanded in Northeast Indiana.
More than 400 athletes, their coaches and families representing more than 30 countries will compete over 10 days. The event could bring with it roughly $500 million to the local economy, O’Connell said.