The Paralympics get underway in Paris today, August 28. They’re the largest global sporting event for athletes with disabilities.

Meanwhile, Grand Rapids has won the bid to host the largest and longest running national sporting championship for athletes with disabilities, the Hartford Nationals.

Mike Guswiler is president of the West Michigan Sports Commission, which will host the event.

“It’s the Hartford Nationals coming in 2025 and 2026, and we love when organizations give us two years,” Guswiler said. “The first year is kind of a get to know each other, and the second year, we really perfect the event. But this event is special in that it’s adaptive athletes, athletes that perhaps have an intellectual or physical disability.”

Guswiler expects the event will generate $1 million in economic development for the Grand Rapids area.

The Hartford Nationals in Grand Rapids will be held July 11 through July 17, 2025.