Four US cities will play host to talent identification events this autumn ©US Paralympics

Gateway to Gold talent identification events will be held across four major cities in the United States this autumn in order find promising youth and adult athletes with physical and visual impairments.

Such events, organised by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), will be held in Boston, the city currently bidding the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, as well as Houston, Minneapolis and the San Francisco and Bay Area.

They will be free and open to all youth, adults and veterans with physical or visual impairments.

The variety of sport offered will vary at each of the locations, but the goal at each of the events will be to provide athletes an opportunity to try Paralympic sport and to connect with ongoing programmes for further skill development.

“These Gateway to Gold events are really exciting because for some athletes, this may be their first exposure to Paralympic sport," said Rick Adams, chief of Paralympic Sport and National Governing Body Organisational Development at USOC.

“We would like to thank our partners for their tremendous support of the Gateway to Gold programme and for helping to grow the Paralympic movement in the United States.”

Wheelchair racing superstar Tatyana McFadden will be among those supporting the event ©Getty Images
Wheelchair racing superstar Tatyana McFadden will be among those supporting the event ©Getty Images

Many high profile Paralympians are serving as ambassadors for the programme, including 12-time Paralympic gold medal winning swimmer Jessica Long and wheelchair racing and skiing superstar Tatyana McFadden.

Each of the ambassadors will attend Gateway to Gold events to "share their stories, mentor participants and provide technical assistance during the sport sessions."

Supported by US Paralympic sponsor BP, the first event is due to take place in Houston on September 20, with cycling, powerlifting, athletics and wheelchair tennis to be showcased.

A second will feature Nordic skiing, rowing, swimming, track and field in Boston on October 4 before a third in Minneapolis six days later consisting of cycling, Nordic skiin and athletics.

The final one will be held in Berkeley, California on October 17, with archery, cycling, swimming and wheelchair basketball to be showcased. 

Details on how to register for each of the events can be found via the programme's website here.



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