Desert Challenge Games Give Para-Athletes Unique Opportunities

The Desert Challenge Games span across the southeast valley all week long where athletes with physical, visual and intellectual impairment compete in a variety of events.  Arizona Disabled Sports invites around 400 athletes from 17 different countries into the desert to compete for medals and new personal and track records.

Many make way to the event due to its unique competitions that can’t be found in many places for certain disability classifications. Brett Babcock and Samuel Larouche are two Canadians who travel south to compete in hopes of finding other competitors, since at one time, Babcock was the only athlete in the country competing in his classification.

The opening track and field events begin on Friday, May 24 at ASU’s Joe Selleh Track and Field and run through Sunday.