SPIRE recently welcomed a group of para-athletes and adaptive sports leaders from Saudi Arabia as part of the Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program and the Cleveland Council on World Affairs. The visiting athletes and leaders enjoyed going to the Buckeye Wheelchair Games and touring SPIRE’s campus, learning about what SPIRE is doing to promote adaptive sports and make training for them more accessible.

Some of the notable visitors included:

• Sultan Khalil Alanazi (Manager of Events, Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee)
• Waleed Abdulaziz Hassan (International Relations Specialist, Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee)
• Safar Mohammed Aldosair (Professional adaptive athlete, Founder of the Jeddah Club for People with Disabilities)
• Khaled Massoud Alhajri (CEO of Swaed Association, Chairman of the Saudi Federation for Wheelchair Sports)
• Mohsen Ahmed Alismail (Chairman, Saudi Boccia Federation for the Disabled)
• Abdulraheem Abdulrahman Alshiekh (Head of the Olympic and Paralympic Federation)
• Dr. Ghareeb Omar Alshuwaier (Head of the Alumni Unit, College of Sport Sciences and Physical Activity, King Saud University)

Keith Webb, SPIRE’s Director of Community Relations facilitated the visit, led the tour and shared the school’s commitment to para-sports, highlighting its global appeal and dedication to enabling adaptive athletes. However, there’s a larger story behind everything Webb is working on to promote adaptive sports in the community. He explained one of the greatest struggles within adaptive sports is getting potential athletes to existing opportunities to train and compete. Webb is working to overcome this, and told us, “Our goal is to partner with some of the other adaptive sport non-profit organizations here in the state of Ohio where we would be able to host effective camps supporting adaptive athletes of all levels…we want to be able to accommodate them in every way possible.”

Among other key initiatives Webb discussed in a recent sit down was the AIT Certification Course, a comprehensive program designed for fitness trainers, coaches, therapists and individuals with disabilities. The course focuses on adaptive fitness methodology, safety protocols and inclusive training practices, equipping graduates with the necessary skills to support diverse athletes. SPIRE will be hosting the seminar from 6/22 – 6/23. Further demonstrating how strongly the school supports the adaptive sports community, SPIRE’s upcoming involvement in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games in New Orleans (7/25 – 7/30) includes sending three coaches (Keith Webb, Demond Clark, Dennis Gaunter) to help coach and officiate in various events.

Webb reflected on SPIRE’s role as a hub for adaptive sports, emphasizing its impact on athletes’ lives and the school’s commitment to establishing a supportive community. He highlighted the need for programs allowing these athletes to develop saying, “Over the course of seven years, I’ve learned there’s just such a need for adaptive sports programming. At the end of the day, adaptive sports are life-changing for those that are able to participate. We are working to provide more resources so that every athlete of all backgrounds and abilities can train, compete and reach their goals” 

The Saudi Arabian visit furthered SPIRE’s mission to promote inclusivity in sports. The time spent with the Saudi para-athletes and adaptive sports leaders at the Buckeye Wheelchair Games and campus tour exemplified the shared passion for adaptive sports and cultural exchange. As SPIRE continues to advance its global presence and promote accessibility in sports, the school remains dedicated to empowering athletes of all abilities by making sports more inclusive.