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Glenn Merry, CEO of Move United on The Hartford Nationals In Grand Rapids (07-13-25)
Published 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Description
In this episode, host Phil Tower chats with Glenn Merry, the CEO of Move United.
From July 11-17, 2025, Grand Rapids is hosting, for the first time, The Hartford Nationals.
This competition is hosted by Move United, the largest and longest-running national sports championship event for athletes with a physical disability, visual impairment, and/or intellectual disability.
This is a major first for the city of Grand Rapids and only the second time for Michigan to host the Hartford Nationals.
The competition featured nine sports, including boccia, contested for the first time at this national event. Other contested sports include archery, para powerlifting, paratriathlon, shooting, swimming, track and field, and wheelchair and para standing tennis.
**The Hartford Nationals take place at six venues around West Michigan.
The economic impact of The Hartford Nationals is expected to be more than $2 million in visitor spending.
What Glenn shared:
**This national competition has been a stepping stone for many athletes to progress and compete at an international level, including the Paralympic Games.
**62 percent of the athletes that represented Team USA at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris either competed at this event or participated in another Move United program or event.
Online: The Hartford Nationals
From July 11-17, 2025, Grand Rapids is hosting, for the first time, The Hartford Nationals.
This competition is hosted by Move United, the largest and longest-running national sports championship event for athletes with a physical disability, visual impairment, and/or intellectual disability.
This is a major first for the city of Grand Rapids and only the second time for Michigan to host the Hartford Nationals.
The competition featured nine sports, including boccia, contested for the first time at this national event. Other contested sports include archery, para powerlifting, paratriathlon, shooting, swimming, track and field, and wheelchair and para standing tennis.
**The Hartford Nationals take place at six venues around West Michigan.
The economic impact of The Hartford Nationals is expected to be more than $2 million in visitor spending.
What Glenn shared:
**This national competition has been a stepping stone for many athletes to progress and compete at an international level, including the Paralympic Games.
**62 percent of the athletes that represented Team USA at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris either competed at this event or participated in another Move United program or event.
Online: The Hartford Nationals