FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FORT WAYNE, IN (June 3, 2025) – Turnstone Center, in partnership with World ParaVolley (WPV), Visit Fort Wayne, and the City of Fort Wayne, announced today that Fort Wayne will host the 2025 WPV Sitting ParaVolley World Cup from October 12–18, 2025.
This prestigious international event will bring more than 1,000 athletes, officials, and delegates from over 20 countries to northeast Indiana. It will mark the first time the Sitting ParaVolley World Cup is hosted in the United States and is expected to generate an economic impact of more than $2.3 million for Allen County.
“We are honored to work alongside WPV and Visit Fort Wayne to welcome the global Sitting ParaVolley community to Fort Wayne,” said Mike Mushett, CEO of Turnstone. “Beyond the intense competition, this event exemplifies the power of inclusive sport and provides a transformational experience for our community.”
"We are extremely pleased to partner with an experienced event host like Turnstone,” said Juergen Schrapp, World ParaVolley President. “The World Cup is our biggest global event, and we are very much looking forward to having women's and men's teams from all over the world competing for the crown.”
The 2025 WPV Sitting ParaVolley World Cup features both men’s and women’s divisions, with up to 16 national teams for both men’s and women’s divisions competing at Turnstone’s state-of-the-art Plassman Athletic Center. This World Cup will be a key pathway for international teams and athletes preparing for the LA 2028 Paralympic Games. The full tournament will be internationally live-streamed utilizing new state-of-the-art streaming capabilities supported by the Indiana Sports and Tourism Bid Fund.
“Fort Wayne continues to be a recognized leader in hosting events that have a lasting and meaningful impact for participants and guests,” said Fort Wayne Mayor Sharon Tucker. “We’re thrilled to welcome athletes from across the globe for this milestone opportunity for our community. The success of our local partners in securing the World Cup speaks to our city’s growing reputation as an inclusive, world-class destination for sports.”
This milestone event builds on Fort Wayne’s growing recognition as a premier adaptive sports destination. As the fastest-growing metropolitan area in the Midwest, Fort Wayne has earned a reputation as a leading sports city in the Great Lakes Region. The community’s steadfast commitment to accessibility—through collaboration across government, tourism, nonprofit, and private sectors—has created an inclusive environment for both residents and visitors.
“Hosting the WPV Sitting ParaVolley World Cup is the result of strategic efforts rooted in our Tourism Master Plan, which prioritizes accessibility,” said Nicolle Campbell, Director of Sales at Visit Fort Wayne. “Turnstone’s leadership, our past success with the 2019 IBSA Goalball & Judo event, and the city’s universal design practices have positioned Fort Wayne as a premier destination for elite adaptive sport.”
The event’s scale and international significance mean that community involvement will be essential. From greeting delegations to supporting competition logistics, local volunteers will play a vital role in ensuring a welcoming and seamless experience for guests from around the world. In addition to volunteers, community sponsors will help provide the resources and visibility needed to deliver an event of this caliber.
“A successful event of this magnitude requires the full support of our community,” said Mike Mushett, CEO of Turnstone. “We’re inviting individuals, civic groups, and businesses to get involved—whether it’s volunteering time, donating resources, or aligning as sponsors. It’s an extraordinary chance to show the world what Fort Wayne can do and to be part of a moment that puts inclusion and athletic excellence center stage.”
Get Involved
Community members who are interested in joining the event as volunteers are encouraged to sign up at: VisitFortWayne.com/Volunteer
Specific volunteer roles, days, and times will be released in the coming weeks. Opportunities will include hospitality, competition support, concessions, media, and more.
Local businesses and organizations interested in sponsorship opportunities can contact Rena shown at rena@turnstone.org to learn how they can contribute to this historic international tournament.
Media Note Downloadable Photos and Video files from today’s announcement can be accessed at this link** and previous WPV competition and Paralympic footage can be accessed on YouTube.
** If you are having issues accessing the file link, please copy and paste the link in your browser: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1L2Au32osN4t1LCbC0wQKbGkMAou2JZNp
For additional information on this media event please contact:
Nicolle Campbell, Director of Sales, Visit Fort Wayne
nicolle@visitfortwayne.com
(260) 424-3700
Stasha Carrasquillo, Chief Marketing Officer, Turnstone
stasha@turnstone.org
(574) 248-0850
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