Boise State hosts adaptive athletes in international cultural exchange

Sports can bridge cultural divides. It brings athletes and fans together, even when they’re from different countries, when they speak different languages, and when they have a variety of abilities.

In November 2025, Boise State hosted a group of teenage and young adult international athletes and chaperones from six countries – Italy, Philippines, Serbia, Slovenia, Tunisia and Uruguay. The athletes came as part of the Sports Visitor Program, implemented by non-profit FHI 360 with funding from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. This Sports Diplomacy Division brings non-elite, international youth and coaches to the U.S. for two-week long exchange programs, creating lasting connections across borders, providing first-hand exposure to American culture and society, and fostering mutual understanding through the power of sport. Accompanied by two interpreters and three FHI staff, the 29 participants spent a day on the Boise State campus learning about the School of Kinesiology’s Adaptive Athletics Program and Boise State Athletics.

Over two weeks in the U.S., participants explored a variety of adaptive sports, with a focus on winter sports, learned about technological innovations, and developed action plan projects related to adaptive sports to implement in their home communities. The group spent a week in Utah before exploring Sun Valley and Boise for a second week in the U.S.

In addition to touring Boise State, the group met with the Boise Parks and Recreational Department to experience the Greenbelt, bowled with the City of Boise’s Adaptive Recreation program, worked out with the Challenged Athletes Foundation Idaho regional chapter, and participated in workshops on leadership with Angela Taylor of the DIGNITAS Agency, mental health with Idaho Youth Ranch, and storytelling with Story Story Night.

The athletes met on the basketball courts at the Recreation Center to learn about Boise State’s Adaptive Athletics Program and wheelchair tennis. After some introduction, Steve Baxter, director of the Adaptive Athletics Program, had the athletes all choose an appropriately sized athletic wheelchair – even for those who use a wheelchair regularly. Athletic wheelchairs are designed to be more maneuverable by having a tighter fit and wheels that tilt to increase turning speed.

The group had a great time learning how to steer their wheelchairs while holding a racket. They practiced their strokes and serving, eventually playing a mini game of tennis. Balls flew around the courts while laughter and shouts filled the air. The athletes gave each other high fives with their rackets after successfully scoring points.

“Working with this group of young athletes was fantastic,” Baxter said. “I always enjoy teaching people about adaptive sports and getting them excited to create opportunities for disabled athletes in their own communities.”

After lunch on campus, the group met with Associate Athletic Director Sara Whiles, who took them on a tour of the Arguinchona Basketball Complex and the Allen Noble Hall of Fame, with a side trip to The Blue. Five football players joined the tour to share their experiences as Division I athletes and to answer questions about what it’s like to be a student-athlete balancing studies, practices and competitions.

The international athletes loved hearing about the football players’ experiences and seeing the athletic facilities. Several also remarked that they didn’t expect to see such beautiful scenery on the bus ride between Utah and Boise.

“We were honored to be part of the tour and to welcome these inspiring athletes to Boise State,” Whiles said. “It was fun and a great reminder of how sport can be a common bridge.”

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