Sports ETA Forms Partnership with Special Olympics

The Sports Events & Tourism Association and Special Olympics have formed a multiyear partnership aimed at expanding opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities through sports tourism.
The collaboration unites Sports ETA’s more than 850 member organizations with Special Olympics, the world’s largest sports organization for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Under terms of the deal, Sports ETA will provide Special Olympics with research, education and connections to destinations and event hosts across the country. The agreement also includes expanded media visibility, storytelling opportunities and integration into key industry platforms such as the Sports ETA Symposium and Sports ETA’s RFP distribution network.

“This partnership represents the very best of what sports can do to bring people together and create opportunity,” said John David, president and CEO of Sports ETA. “By connecting our industry’s destinations and event leaders with Special Olympics, we are helping expand access to competition, elevate athlete stories, and build more inclusive communities across the country. Sports tourism is a powerful economic engine, but more importantly, it is a platform to drive meaningful social impact.”

Special Olympics will also gain direct access to Sports ETA members through events, education and business development opportunities, including participation in the annual Sports ETA Symposium and access to training and certification programs. The partnership will also create new opportunities for destinations to bid on and host Special Olympics events, further integrating inclusion into the sports tourism ecosystem.

“We are proud to partner with Sports ETA to expand the reach and impact of Special Olympics across North America,” said Greg Epperson, regional president and managing director, Special Olympics North America. “This collaboration opens the door for more communities to welcome our athletes, more partners to support our mission, and more opportunities to demonstrate that inclusion through sport can transform lives, strengthen communities, and change perceptions.”