Colorado Springs, Colo. (November 15, 2024)—USA Ultimate, the national governing body (NGB) for the sport of ultimate in the United States, was honored Thursday by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee with the 2024 DE&I Choice Award for excellence in its diversity, equity and inclusion practices.
The award was presented to USA Ultimate Manager of DEI and Youth Engagement Gervon Williams during a reception at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Assembly in Colorado Springs.
Created in 2015, the award identifies two NGBs annually for the creation of DE&I best practices. Finalists are determined by the USOPC DE&I Advisory Council and winners are selected by a vote open to all NGBs.
In the category of NGB’s with less than $10 Million of annual revenue, USA Ultimate was nominated as a finalist alongside USA Speed Skating and USA Taekwondo before USA Ultimate was selected as the winner by a peer group of 61 NGBs of amateur sport and other USOPC Recognized Sports Organizations.
USA Ultimate was recognized for its efforts to bring ultimate to a younger and more diverse population in local communities through a partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). Earlier this year, USA Ultimate became a Verified Provider of ultimate. As part of the program, USA Ultimate provides educational resources to local BGCA clubs interested in implementing ultimate into their programming. Clubs are eligible to receive free equipment and teaching materials from USA Ultimate and are connected to local disc organizations in their communities, which offer instructional clinics and serve as an additional, local resource at the grassroots level. As a result, more than 50 BGCA clubs across the country have introduced ultimate to more than 3,000 kids since March.
USRowing was awarded in the $10 Million + category for its United We Row Grant Program ahead of fellow finalists USA Basketball and USA Water Polo.
“On behalf of USA Ultimate, we’re humbled and honored to receive this award and thankful for all those that have been so invested in the Verified Provider Program – Boys & Girls Clubs of America, local disc organizations and the kids who pick up a disc and try ultimate for the first time,” said Williams. “It’s been wonderful to hear from club leaders and staff on the ground who are seeing an increase in the number of kids that are becoming active in their clubs after introducing ultimate. As we continue to build on this program, we look forward to expanding the opportunities for kids to learn about and experience ultimate and elevate the profile of our sport to new participants.”
