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Before formally established in 1993, Founder Jim Benson and then Executive Director Stephen Whisnant were intrigued by the possibility of accomplishing an athletic achievement previously thought to be impossible. However, Benson and Whisnant did not only want to complete the challenge, they wanted to enable athletes with disabilities worldwide. It was that vision that paved the way for the World T.E.A.M. Sports Ride Across America, Kilimanjaro Confidence Climb and the AXA World Ride of 1995.
As a high school student, Benson became aware of a fellow student, Ricky Prine, gifted beyond external appearance. Prine was not only talented in the classroom; he consistently showed signs of great athletic ability; however, he was living with a disability and was consistently excluded from all activities by his peers. Benson saw something different in Prine and recognized him as a person before his disability. Benson made a promise that if ever given the opportunity, he would create an organization committed to providing more opportunities to individuals living with a disability and he would use the power of sports to make it possible. Some of World TEAMS success stories and notable history are:
1987 – "Ride Across America"
* In conjunction with California Special Olympics
* 2650 Mile Bicycle relay from Newport Beach, CA to Jacksonville Beach, FL
* October 3, 1987 – November 2, 1987
1990 – "Kilimanjaro Confidence Climb"
* 12 mentally challenged athletes and 15 able-bodied athletes
* February 16, 1990 – February 25, 1990
* Documentary Film: "Let Me Be Brave" aired as a CBS Sports special on July 15, 1990, narrated by James Brown. Emmy Award Winner – Outstanding Program Achievement.
1995 – "AXA World Ride 95"
* 13,000 mile bicycle adventure
* 16 countries; 16 world capitals; 16 states
* 5 core disabled riders – rode every mile!
* 400+ stage riders
* 25 core coaches
* 10,000+ day ride participants
* Atlanta, New York, Boston, Dublin, London, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Bonn, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Warsaw, Minsk, Moscow, Novosibirk, Irkutsk, Ulan Botor, Beijing, Osaka, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Washington, DC
* March 17, 1995 – November 21, 1995
* Documentary Film: "World Ride: The Possible Dream" aired as NBC Sports Special on Thanksgiving Day, 1995, narrated by Charles Kurault
1998 – "Vietnam Challenge"
* 1250 mile cicycle expedition
* Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City
* Combined 70 member disabled team for former combatants (United States and North Vietnam) with 20 able-bodied coaches
* January 3, 1998 – January 20, 1998
* Documentary Film: "Vietnam Long Time Coming", originally aired as NBC Sports Special Veterans Day, 1998. Hosted by Dick Enberg; Emmy Award Winner – Outstanding Program Achievement
2000 – "Face of America"
* Unique bicycle relay featuring two teams departing from San Francisco and Boston respectively, meeting at the Memorial Arch, St. Louis, MO in July 2000
* Covered over 400 miles combining disabled and able bodied riders from all 50 states
2002 – "Face of America"
* 9/11 Memorial Bicycle Ride
* 277 miles over 3 days
* Ground Zero, NYC to the Pentagon, Washington, DC
* Combined team of 1300 riders
2003 – "Face of America"
* Reprise of 9/11 Memorial Ride
* Same course, slope, rider content, and impact
* September, 2003
2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009 – "Face of America"
* Washington, DC to Gettysburg, PA bike ride
* Features returning disabled and able bodied U.S. Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans
* Increasing participation each year – 125 in 2006; 340 in 2009
2007 – "Return to Kilimanjaro"
* 7 Mentally challenged athletes return to Africa supported by 15 able bodied coaches
* January 20, 2007 – February 1, 2007
2007, 2008, 2009 – "Adventure Team Challenge" (formerly "Real Deal")
* Colorado adventure race
* Multiple 5-person teams (2 disabled) "compete" in a multi-faceted, 2-day adventure race along the Colorado River in the Gore Mountain wilderness north of Vail, CO
* Features mountain running & biking, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, rappelling, zip lines, and race orienteering.
* Held annually in June
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