 News Releases |
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News Releases |
IPC
Briefed on ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games Preparations
CONTACT: Dr. Susanne Reiff, IPC Media and Communication Director,
Phone: +49 (228) 209 7230 - FAX: +49 (228) 209 7209, e-mail: Susanne.reiff@paralympic.org
(Athens, Greece ) June 27, 2003 - The 4th Paralympic Games Liaison Committee meeting took place from 25 to 27 June in Athens, Greece, between the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and ATHENS 2004, the organising committee of the Paralympic Games.
During three days of working sessions, ATHENS 2004 briefed the IPC on the status of preparations for the approaching Paralympic Games in several areas, including budget, image and identity, volunteers' programme, communications, transport and ceremonies. Detailed discussions and work in the areas of sports, venue operations, ticketing and services provided to the National Paralympic Committees led to significant progress on these matters.
Ano Liossia Olympic Hall, which will be the venue for Boccia and Judo during the Paralympic Games, and Galatsi Olympic Hall, hosting Table Tennis, were visited as well as the Paralympic Village. The IPC congratulates ATHENS 2004 on the progress and quality of these venues.
Said François Terranova, Chairperson of the IPC Games Liaison Committee: "With the Chef de Mission seminar approaching in late September and the ATHENS 2004 Organising Committee moving into a games time structure, the IPC is looking for ATHENS to accelerate the full integration of the Paralympic Games into their operations."
The IPC congratulates the organising committee on the successful launch of the "ERMIS Accessible Choice" programme, aimed at upgrading the services provided by Greek businesses and making these businesses accessible to all citizens in view of the Paralympics. Also praised was the progress made by the Sports, Venue Operations, and NPC Services departments.
The IPC looks forward to continuous progress and a good working
relationship with the ATHENS 2004 Organising Committee.
The Paralympic Games are the equivalent of the Olympics for athletes with a disability. They will take place from September 17 to 28, 2004, using the same venues and facilities as the Olympic Games.
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2003 U.S. Disabled Sailing Team Announced
Contact:
Jan Harley, Media Pro, 401.849.0220
(Portsmouth, RI) June 26, 2003 - The Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC) of U.S. SAILING, national governing body for the sport, has announced its 2003 U.S. Disabled Sailing Team. Created in 1998 to develop and prepare the Team attending the Paralympic Games, the U.S. Disabled Sailing Team annually recognizes the top-three competitors in the two classes selected for the Paralympic Games - Sonar and 2.4 Metre. For the first time, each Sonar team will name an alternate which will allow for a crew substitution should the need arise.
The U.S. Disabled Sailing Team is sponsored by Lands' End and
Rolex Watch, U.S.A. Suppliers to the Team are Extrasport, Gill
North America, McLube and Sperry Top-Sider. The members of the
2003 U.S. Disabled Sailing Team are listed in ranking order one
through three.
John Ross-Duggan, Jean-Paul Creignou, and Mike
Ross
lead the Paralympics Sonar Class, Rolex Miami OCR.
Named in the Sonar class (skipper and crew): 1998 World Disabled
Sailing Gold Medallist John Ross-Duggan (Newport Beach, CA), with
Mike Ross (Leucadia, CA), J.P. Creignou (St. Petersburg, FL) and
alternate Larry Kutno (Seffner, FL); 2001 2.4 Metre North American
and Northeastern Champion Rick Doerr (Clifton, NJ) with Tim Angle
(Marblehead, MA), 1998 World Disabled Sailing Silver Medallist
Richard Hughes (Kennesaw, GA), and alternate Maureen McKinnon-Tucker
(Marblehead, MA); 2000 Paralympians Paul Callahan (Providence,
RI) and Keith Burhans (Irondequoit, NY) with Mike Hersey (Hyannis,
MA), and alternate Roger Cleworth (Brandon, FL).
Named in the 2.4 Metre class: 2001 IFDS 2.4 Metre World Silver
Medallist and 2000 Paralympic 2.4 Metre Bronze Medallist Tom Brown
(Northeast Harbor, ME); John Ruf (Pewaukee, WI); and Tom Franklin
(Miami, FL)
The 2004 Paralympic Regatta is scheduled for late August in Athens,
Greece, shortly after the 2004 Olympic Games, and will utilize
the same competition venue. Additional information on the U.S.
Disabled Sailing Team is available at: www.ussailing.org/Olympics/Paralympic/.
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CONTACT: International
Paralympic Committee Media and Communication Department,
+49 (228) 209 7230 - FAX: +49 (228) 209 7209; Adenauerallee 212-214,
D-53113 Bonn, Germany
(Madrid, Spain) May 19, 2003 - The International Paralympic
Committee (IPC) today announced the appointment of International
Sports Broadcasting (ISB) to become the host broadcaster of the
Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, which will take place from 17 to
29 September 2004. Thus, the international television coverage
of the second largest sporting event in 2004 is secured at high
standards. The IPC and ISB expect nearly 100 broadcasters from
around the world to cover the Games.
"In ISB, we have found the ideal partner to provide first
class feeds to all broadcasters. As the Paralympic Games will
take place in Europe, we expect even more coverage than in Sydney
in 2000, where 300 million television viewers followed the competitions,"
said IPC President Phil Craven. Many broadcasters have already
indicated their interest in the Paralympic Games. The host broadcaster
will provide national and international media with comprehensive
audio and video feeds of all key events of the Paralympic Games,
including daily live feeds from some venues and highlights summaries.
ISB will also sell the broadcasting rights to national and international
broadcasters. ISB has extensive experience in sports broadcasting,
being the host broadcaster for the Olympic
Games in Athens and the Salt Lake Paralympic Winter Games in 2002.
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New IPC Logo to Reflect Modern Era of Paralympic
Sport
CONTACT: Dr. Susanne Reiff, IPC Media and Communication Director, Mobil: +49-171-743 3327.
(Madrid, Spain) May 15, 2003 - Phil Craven, International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President, announced at a press conference held at the international sports convention SportAccord in Madrid, Spain, that the IPC moves into a new era of sport for athletes with a disability. New tasks and goals are currently being established following a just recently concluded Strategic Review of the organisation's structure, roles and responsibilities. Said Mr. Craven: "One of our goals is to focus on sport development starting at a grass roots level especially in less developed countries."
Reflecting this advance into a modern era, Mr. Craven also presented the new IPC logo, which represents the IPC as a dynamic and global sports movement full of motion, thus perfectly reflecting the new motto "Spirit in Motion."
Concerning the progress of preparations of the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, Mr. Craven underlined that the IPC is confident that the Organising Committee will fulfill the set aims, staging successful Games for elite athletes with a disability. He added, though, that the potential of the legacy of the Paralympic Games might not be fully taken advantage of by the city of Athens and the entire Greek nation.
The Paralympic Games are the equivalent of the Olympics for athletes with a disability. They will take place from September 17 to 28 2004, using the same venues and facilities as the Olympic Games.
The IPC is the international governing body of sport for athletes with a disability.
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CONTACT: Vicky Moustaka, vpmousta@athens2004.com
(Athens, Greece) May 5, 2003 - Only five hundred days remain
before the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games, which will
be hosted in Athens from 17 until 28 September 2004. This is the
second largest athletic event in the world where 4,000 athletes;
2,000 team officials; 1,000 technical officials; 15,000 volunteers;
and approximately 3,000 media representatives will participate.
National Paralympic Committees from 134 countries (compared to
the 123 in Sydney) have applied for the 2004 Paralympic Games,
surpassing all records of participation in the history of the
Games. ATHENS 2004 decision to abolish the participation fee of
the athletes in the Athens Games contributed to this effect and
provided countries with limited financial resources with the opportunity
to be present in the great event.
The decision to have responsibility of the organising of the Paralympic
Games - for the first time in the history of the Games - by the
Organising Committee for the Olympic Games is a clear indication
that ATHENS 2004 attributes the same weight to the two top organisations
of the world, and treats all athletes equally. The 19 Paralympic
sports of the Games will be conducted at the same Olympic venues,
the classic route of the marathon race being a top event. Specialised
medical and technical personnel evaluate the potential and the
skill of the athletes and classify them into different categories
according to the different degree of disability, so that they
can compete on equal terms. This system is practiced on most of
the sports and is called Functional Classification. In
this way it is secured that athletes competing in the same category
have the same or similar functional abilities. The decisive factor
for success is skill and training.
All athletes, accompanying members, technical officials, judges
and referees will be accommodated in the Paralympic Village, which
is part of the Olympic Village and where accessibility and accommodation
of people with disability are ensured. National Paralympic Committees
from 20 countries and representatives from the International Paralympic
Committee have visited ATHENS 2004, in order to be briefed on
the latest developments. Within the framework of the preparations
of the Paralympic Games the issue of accessibility has been particularly
highlighted. Apart from the Paralympic Village, all athletic venues
that will host the Games will be accessible for athletes, accompanying
members, VIPs and visitors while more works are being constructed
so that the city becomes friendlier to people with disabilities,
a great legacy to be left by the Paralympic Games. New legislative
measures foresee that building overlays where the public agencies
and organisations are accommodated, meet the needs of the people
with moving impairments. ATHENS 2004 in cooperation with the Athens
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, promote the implementation of
the "Ermis- Accessible choice" programme, which aims
at the improvement of accessibility for people with disabilities
in shopping malls, restaurants and entertainment centres.
Important work has been achieved in relation to the promotion
of the Games and the raising of public opinion, particularly that
of the younger generation, on the issues of people with disabilities
and their achievements. In the programmes of Olympic Education,
educational archives of the Paralympic Games have been added,
which have impressed the members of the International Paralympic
Committee and are expected to be used in future organisations.
A cross-section of this work is the "Adopt a Sport"
programme during which students become familiar with the Paralympic
Games by adopting one of the 19 sports.
The first Games for people with disabilities were conducted in
1948 at Stoke Mandeville in Great Britain; while the first Paralympic
Games were in 1960 in Rome, where 400 athletes from 23 countries
attended the event which included competition programme of 8 sports.
In Sydney 3,843 athletes from 123 countries participated.
For more information visit our website www.athens2004.com
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AN
AMERICAN REVOLUTION IN BOSTON:Contact: Paul Meznarich, Communications Manager, U.S. Paralympics,
719-471-0387
April 20, 2003 (Boston, MA) - It was an American revolution this Patriots' Day, as U.S. athletes claimed the top two spots in the women's wheelchair race during the 107th running of the Boston Marathon on Monday, April 21. Christina Ripp (Dane, WI/Savoy, IL), last year's runner-up, held off a last-minute charge by defending New York and Los Angeles marathon champion Cheri Blauwet (Larchwood, IA/San Lorenzo, CA) to win her first Boston Marathon title in 1 hour, 54 minutes, 47 seconds. Blauwet finished 10 seconds back in 1:54:57, while defending Boston champion, Edith Hunkeler of Switzerland, was third in 1:56:54.
Ripp and Blauwet are both members of the newly formed The Hartford Road Race Team, sponsored by The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. The Hartford recently signed a seven-figure, multi-year partnership with U.S. Paralympics to support training and competition opportunities for athletes with physical disabilities.
U.S. Paralympics is a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee and oversees the development of elite-level athletes with physical disabilities for Paralympic competition. The mission of U.S. Paralympics is to become the world leader in the Paralympic sports movement and promote excellence in the lives of all persons with physical disabilities. The U.S. Paralympics Web site can be found at www.usparalympics.org.
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VSA arts Exhibit Highlights
International Artists With DisabilitiesApril 20, 2003 (Washington, DC) - VSA arts showcases twelve accomplished international artists with disabilities at the forefront of their disciplines. The preview, juried exhibit, scheduled for May 5-June 20 at CP Artspace at 1350 I Street, NW, Washington, DC, is presented in advance of the 4th International VSA arts Festival coming to Washington in June 2004.
For exhibitor Mark Parsons of New York, his sculpture
allows him to explore the crackling tension between the internal
and the external. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1999, his
large, three-dimensional drawings exhibit the precarious stacking
of forms, suggestive of both large-scale architecture and children's
building blocks. For him, "physical objects created with
well-directed intent might, when pondered, unlock one's mind."
Kong Ho,
professor and muralist, derives much of his imagery from his Hong
Kong heritage (see his piece, left, scheduled to appear
in this Exhibit). By multi-layering symbols, he
creates a dynamic surface that contrasts form, texture, and color.
The resulting image gives a sense of tension and drama, integrating
visual concepts of order and disorder. Kong Ho will also provide
a lecture on June 4 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at CP Artspace.
The themes of Linda Carmella Sibio's work originate
from issues such as homelessness, mental illness, suicide, and
mass murder. "From the pain of schizophrenia to the madness
of art - I continue to make my work," says Sibio, a resident
of California. Derived from the elements and effects of mental
illness, her miniature symbols and figures resemble ancient hieroglyphs.
After a gunshot wound caused her paralysis, Marquetta Bell
Johnson of Georgia immersed herself in textile work, creating
hand-dyed fabrics that often infuse multiple layers of painted-on
color. With needle and thread, she then fashions them into bold
patterns and original designs. "I would describe my work
as the effort of a human trying to become more human by holding
up the tie of kinship," says Johnson. Her textiles are found
in the private collections of B.B. King, Maya Angelou, and the
Coca-Cola Corporation.
The complete list of exhibitors includes: Dayanara Fuentes
(Panama); Sergio Giraldo Giraldo (Columbia); Maria
Jankovics (Canada); Jean-Michel Terencio-Arrouet (France);
Yashpal Chandrakar (India); Kong Ho (Pennsylvania,
U.S.); Marcee Blackerbee, (Utah, U.S.); Lanham Bundy,
(Rhode Island, U.S.); Marquetta Bell Johnson, (Georgia,
U.S.); d'Elaine Johnson, (Washington, U.S.); Mark Parsons,
(New York, U.S.); and Linda Carmella Sibio, (California,
U.S.).
(See right, a work by Jean-Michel Terencio-Arrouet scheduled
to appear in this Exhibit.)
The exhibit was juried by Massumeh Farhad, Curator of Islamic
Art, Freer and Sackler Galleries of Art, Smithsonian Institution;
Virginia Shore, Senior Curator of the Art in Embassies Program,
Department of State; and David Adamson, Owner, Adamson Gallery.
A free reception is scheduled for May 8 from 5:30-8:00 p.m. All
are invited.
VSA arts is an international non-profit organization founded by Jean Kennedy Smith in 1974 to promote education and lifelong learning opportunities in the arts for people with disabilities. Nearly 5 million people worldwide participate in VSA arts programs in music, dance, drama, creative writing, and the visual arts.
NOTE: Late in 1999 Very Special Arts changed its name to VSA arts, standing for Vision, Strength, and Artistic Expression.
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IPC Offers
Exhibition Events for Athletes with Intellectual Disability at
ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games
CONTACT: Dr. Susanne Reiff, IPC Director of Media and Communication; International Paralympic Committee, Adenauerallee 212-214, 53113 Bonn, Germany; Tel: +49 228 209 7200; Fax: +49 228 209 7209; susanne.reiff@paralympic.org; www.paralympic.org
April 7, 2003 (Bonn, Germany) - The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced during its Executive Committee meeting held in Athens from 4 to 6 April that a limited number of exhibition events for athletes with an intellectual disability will be included in the ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games.
"With this move, the IPC can provide INAS-FID athletes
with sporting opportunities at a high level, whilst safeguarding
the Paralympic Games," said IPC President Phil Craven. The
IPC reiterated its decision taken in January, 2003, that staging
events for intellectually disabled athletes as full medal events
at the ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games is not possible as there is
no satisfactory eligibility verification system in place at this
time which could ensure fair
competition.
Jos Mulder, President of INAS-FID (International Sports Federation for Persons with an Intellectual Disability), said that the inclusion of exhibition events in the ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games has an important impact on the sport development for this group of athletes. In addition, both organisations agreed to follow the IPC's proposal to establish a joint eligibility verification committee, which will strive for the development of an eligibility verification system which will meet the requirements of the IPC.
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"ADOPT A SPORT" FOR THE PARALYMPIC GAMES
CONTACT: Vicky Moustaka, vpmousta@athens2004.com
(Athens, Greece) March 26, 2003 - "Adopt a Sport"
is a joint initiative undertaken by ATHENS 2004 and the Ministry
of Education, addressed to pupils attending schools throughout
the country and aimed at spreading the values and principles of
athletes with disabilities through the "adoption" of
one of the nineteen Paralympic sports and, by extension, of the
second largest sporting event on the planet - the Paralympic Games,
for which Greece is preparing in 2004.
This initiative was presented at the 'Spyros Louis' Olympic Indoor
Hall at Maroussi by ATHENS 2004 President Mrs. Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki,
Minister of Education, Mr Petros Efthymiou and the Deputy Minister
responsible for Olympic education, Mrs Eleni Kourkoula. Participants
in the event were school children from Maroussi Municipality schools,
who had the opportunity to get acquainted with Wheelchair basketball
through an exhibition game between the National Team and the Maroussi
A.S.K.A. team.
Referring to "Adopt a sport," the ATHENS 2004 President
stressed that it is an educational plan of action which begins
today and will be completed in September 2004 upon the commencement
of the Paralympic Games. It is a programme created for the children
of the elementary and secondary schools.
Addressing the children, Mrs Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki said,
"We are starting with you because you are pioneers, you have
the courage to speak out about many things, to oppose old and
unpleasant things, to project new things, to create 'trends' in
many spheres, not only in that of fashion."
Addressing the parents, teachers and professors, she pointed out,
"This programme can constitute an important contributor to
your work. It suffices that you support it with initiatives, that
you encourage children inside and outside the school room and
with participation in volunteer action."
Minister of Education Mr Petros Efthymiou focused particularly
on the important steps taken by Greek education in the effort
to enlighten young people that there is no discrimination among
citizens. "In the same way, therefore, there is no discrimination
in the educational system, where equal participation is secured
for all school children, including those with disabilities. It
is characteristic that, for example, at the Nea Filadelphia school
the entire class embraces and supports its classmate with a disability."
He added, "the schools called upon to adopt a Paralympic
sport in effect adopt life values."
Referring to the facts, which prove the progress registered in
Greece over the past few years, he said that 1,074 units operate
through out Greece for the induction of children who are in need
of special education and training. Two hundred eighty three school
units for special education and training; 50 workshops for professional
training. Furthermore, in 90 cases teaching is conducted at home
for persons needing special training, while 500 permanent educational
personnel have been hired exclusively for schools providing special
education. As of next September, he added, another 600 persons
will be hired as special personnel and the training of 1,000 instructors
will begin on issues related to the education and training of
persons with disabilities.
He ended with an advance announcement that on 5 May, as part of
the Greek EU Presidency, a proposal would be made to the Council
of Education Ministers, a proposal regarded as sure to meet with
unanimous approval, for the adoption of a Common Position on the
upbringing and education of persons with disabilities. Furthermore,
on 16 and 17 March there would be a forum with all European official
bodies for persons with disabilities being represented. "The
Olympic and Paralympic Games will be a chance for Greece to prove
that she takes first place with distinction on all tracks. The
track that answers to us is the track of humanity, sensitivity
and beauty of life, and we are sure that the Olympic and Paralympic
Games will be the best ever," he said. Deputy Minister of
Education Eleni Kourkoula stressed that what the Olympic Games
contribute to our homeland is an opportunity not just for visible
achievements but, and above all, achievements that will outlast
the Games. Of pupils, she said, that they were fortunate to be
coming into contact with the Paralympic Education programmes,
which would enable them to become better citizens. These are programmes
aimed at "accepting otherness, whether in the sense of colour,
religion, or persons with disabilities." Of the Olympic Education
programme she said that no less than 3,010 proposals for participation
had been submitted to her Ministry and that 939 schools had already
been selected for funding to develop Accepting Otherness projects,
including disability.
The Mayor of Maroussi, Panagiotis Tzannikos, pledged that his municipality would give the Paralympic Games its undivided and solid support. He made it clear that the stake of the citizens of the municipality, from which Spyros Louis came, was that every stadium should be full every day. Paralympic Games Swimmer Konstantinos Fykas spoke of his experiences as a competitor in previous Paralympic Games. He called on all young people to fill the stadiums at Games-time. "No victory is as important as victory in front of your own people," he reminded them. "Adpot a Sport" will encourage pupils to recognise the nineteen Paralympic sports and to support the one they like best, by organising competitions and educational games at intervals, and by recognising the Paralympic athletes who will represent Greece in the 2004 Paralympic Games and keeping in touch with them.
The meeting began and ended with songs specially written for the Paralympic Games by the actor and singer Yannis Zouganelis, who is appearing without a fee at all events organised by ATHENS 2004.
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CONTACT: Paul Meznarich, Communications Manager, U.S. Paralympics;
(719) 471-0387; fax 719-471-0196; 25 North Tejon, Lower Level
110 Colorado Springs, CO 80903; http://www.usparalympics.org
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO (March 14, 2003) - U.S. Paralympics recently announced a national program initiative entitled The America Series that collaborates with key program partners to provide elite Paralympic athletes quality competition opportunities against international fields. More than $100,000 in prize money has been committed for top performers in the Series.
The Series is being developed in collaboration with Olympic-member National Governing Bodies and disability sports organization partners to utilize existing venues and events, providing maximum exposure to Paralympic participants. The 2003 Series includes events in track and field, wheelchair road racing, judo, wheelchair basketball and rugby, table tennis and wheelchair fencing. U.S. Paralympics sports administrators hope to expand the Series in coming years to include all Paralympic sports.
The events are also being utilized as platforms to enhance local and regional outreach efforts to promote health and wellness initiatives for children and individuals with physical disabilities. "Bringing in world-class competition to high-profile events with prize money is beneficial, not only to the Paralympic sports movement as a whole, but individually in our own preparations for Athens 2004," said Paralympic medalist Cheri Blauwet, winner of the New York and L.A. Marathon wheelchair divisions.
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Kingston, RI (March 5, 2003) - The National Disability Sports
Alliance (NDSA) will host a clinic to train physical therapists
and physicians to
classify riders and drivers with physical disabilities for competition
according to the I.P.E.C. standard. The clinic, to be held at
the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank, CA, May 30
June 1, 2003, is designed to teach physical therapists and physicians
what the I.P.E.C. system for classifying athletes is and how to
use it effectively. It will include instruction in the process
of classification, and also cover the rules of I.P.E.C. competition
and hands-on workshops overseen by internationally-recognized
classifiers.
In order to ensure fair competition among riders and drivers with disabilities, the I.P.E.C. categorizes these athletes into Grades I-IV according to their abilities, not their riding or driving skill. Grade I consists of athletes with the most severe disabilities, while Grade IV is for those with the least.
Through clinics such as the one planned for May, the NDSA hopes to develop a network of qualified professionals who can classify equestrian athletes with disabilities in order to meet the national demand of riders and drivers. The clinic is open to any physical therapist or physician who wishes to attend and will be moderated by I.P.E.C. international classifiers Jim Little, PT, and Joann Benjamin, PT, HPCS. There will be a cost of $75 per person and the deadline for registration is May 15, 2003. There are two more such clinics being planned for this year, one in the summer and another in the fall. The dates and locations of those clinics are not yet determined, but will be based on demand and location of interested participants.
The I.P.E.C. is the international governing body for equestrian sports for equestrian athletes with disabilities. It is responsible for international rules, sanctioning of international competitions, and for Paralympic Games and World Championships. For more information about the I.P.E.C., please visit their website at www.ipec-athletes.de or contact Jonquil Solt by email at jonquil@solt.demon.co.uk.
The National Disability Sports Alliance is the national governing body for equestrian sport for equestrian athletes with disabilities. The non-profit organization is responsible for the development and selection of riders for national championships and international competitions, including World Championships and the Paralympic Games, and provides training, competition and advocacy for riders of all levels with physical disabilities. For more information about NDSA and opportunities to support the programs, please visit our website at www.ndsaequestrian.org or contact Denise Avolio at (914) 949-8166 or diavolio@ndsaonline.org.
To register for the classification clinic, please contact Nora Grassmyer at (530) 295-0997 or ngrassmyer@aol.com. All other inquiries regarding the course should be directed to Joann Benjamin at (818) 907-0971 or joannbenjamin@vdn.com.
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USTA ANNOUNCES PLAYERS AND COACHES FOR
2003 INVACARE WORLD TEAM CUP
America's Top Wheelchair Tennis Athletes to Train at USOC Olympic
Training Center
CONTACT: Seth Sylvan , Director, Publicity, Community Tennis, USTA, 914-696-7088 or sylvan@usta.com; Paul Meznarich, Communications Manager, U.S. Paralympics, 719-471-0387; Jeff Heckelman, USTA Publicity, Community Tennis, 914-696-7260 or heckelman@usta.com
February 27, 2003 (White Plains, NY) - The USTA today announced the players and coaches that will compete for the 2003 Invacare World Team Cup, the international team wheelchair tennis competition for men and women. The nation's elite and emerging wheelchair tennis players will compete with participants from over 32 countries June 9-15, 2003 in Sopot, Poland in this ITF-sanctioned tournament.
Earlier this week, the USTA announced that the USOC Olympic
Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., will serve as the
training camp site for the teams from February 28 March
2. The men, women and juniors participating will benefit from
intensive, high-tech conditioning and training sessions as they
prepare for the 2003 competitive season
, which culminates with the World Team Cup.
"We are very proud to have these players representing America and the USTA," said Tina M. Dale, chairperson of the USTA USA Wheelchair Tennis Committee. "The experience of training at the Olympic Training Center with our outstanding coaching staff will give them an excellent opportunity to be victorious at the World Team Cup."
The coaches of the six teams are: Dan James, Gold Medal Men; Jim Buck, Gold Medal Women; Jason Harnett, Gold Medal Quad; Michael Mercier, Futures Men; Michael Cottingham, Futures Women; and Kari Yerg-McGinn, Futures Quad. Members of the six teams are named below.
| Name | Hometown |
Gold Medal Men Dan James (Coach) Derek Bolton John Greer Larry Quintero Jon Rydberg Steve Welch |
Northfield, MN Alamosa, CO Kaneohe, HI San Antonio, TX Huntington Beach, CA Bedford, TX |
Gold Medal Women Jim Buck (Coach) Beth Arnoult Sharon Clark Julia Dorsett Karin Korb Hope Lewellen Kaitlyn Verfuerth |
Woodland Hills, CA Kula, HI San Jose, CA Boca Raton, FL Atlanta, Ga. Palos Park, IL Port Washington, WI |
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Gold Medal Quad |
Irvine, CA Oceanside, CA Chapel Hill, TN Las Vegas, NV Wichita, KS Oro Valley, AZ Birmingham, AL |
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Futures Men |
Beverly, MA Highland, CA Chino, CA Glenview, IL Columbus, OH Upland, CA |
Futures Women Michael Cottingham (Coach) Tiffany Geller Amy McKnight Dana Meyer Kirsten Mohr Elizabeth Williams |
Tucson, AZ Duluth, GA Huntington Beach, CA Birmingham, AL Tucson, AZ Durham, NC |
Futures Quad Kari Yerg-McGinn (Coach) Bryan Barten Lylah Hill Marc McLean Jeffrey Odom Robbie Sanders |
Boca Raton, FL Tucson, AZ Alta Loma, CA Cape Coral, FL Tucson, AZ Cape Girardeau, MO |
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CONTACT: Seth Sylvan , Director, Publicity, Community Tennis, USTA, 914-696-7088 or sylvan@usta.com; Paul Meznarich, Communications Manager, U.S. Paralympics, 719-471-0387; Jeff Heckelman, USTA Publicity, Community Tennis, 914-696-7260 or heckelman@usta.com
February 24, 2003 (White Plains, NY) - The USTA today announced that the USOC Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO will serve as the training camp site for 30 of nation's elite and emerging wheelchair tennis players from February 28 - March 2. The men, women, and juniors participating will benefit from intensive, high-tech conditioning and training sessions as they prepare for the 2003 competitive season.
The season culminates with the 2003 Invacare World Team Cup by Camozzi, the international team wheelchair tennis competition for men and women. Participants from over 32 countries will compete June 9 - 15 in Sopot, Poland,in this ITF tournament.
"The USTA strives to provide all our athletes with the very best opportunities to reach their highest potential," said Rick Ferman, Executive Director, USTA. "The USOC Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs is one of the premier, state-of-the-art training facilities in the world, and the experience of training there will give our teams a wonderful opportunity to bring the World Team Cup home to America."
"Bringing players of all abilities and backgrounds into tennis and offering them the resources necessary to stay in the game is a top priority for the USTA," said Tom Fetzer, Chief Executive, Community Tennis, USTA. "As the national governing body for Paralympic wheelchair tennis, we are proud that our partnership with the USOC will provide the opportunity for world-class athletes to train together under the very best coaching."
"This is the type of quality training and coaching we want for all of our Paralympic-caliber athletes," said Charlie Huebner, Executive Director, U.S. Paralympics. "We are pleased to partner with USTA and to tap into their expertise as our athletes continue to prepare for the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens."
The USTA will announce the coaches and players for the World Team Cup later this week.
The USTA was officially designated by the USOC as the national governing body for the Paralympic sport of wheelchair tennis in June 2002, becoming the first Olympic national governing body to earn this recognition. As the national governing body for wheelchair tennis, the USTA manages wheelchair tennis in the United States, including the sanctioning of tournaments, overseeing the ranking systems, creating and managing a High Performance program for developing elite disabled athletes and coaches, and selecting teams to compete internationally for the United States.
The United States Tennis Association is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the United States and is a non-profit organization with more than 660,000 members. It owns and operates the U.S. Open and selects the teams that compete in Davis Cup, Fed Cup and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It invests all its resources to promote and develop the growth of tennis, from the grass roots to professional levels.
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INAS-FID
Eligibility System Unsatisfactory:
Athletes with Intellectual Disability Cannot Participate in 2004
Paralympics
CONTACT: Dr. Susanne Reiff, IPC Director of Media and Communication; +49 (228) 209 7200; Mobile: +49 170 306 7592; susanne.reiff@paralympic.org
February 2, 2003 (Bonn, Germany) - The International
Paralympic Committee (IPC) Management Committee yesterday decided
that events for intellectually disabled athletes will not be included
in the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games. This decision was taken because
the revised system for testing athletes' eligibility submitted
by the International Sports Federation for Persons with an Intellectual
Disability (INAS-FID) did not meet the conditions required by
the IPC.
The Athens 2004 Paralympic Games event program was set in October,
2002, in order to meet the timelines for the organization of the
Games. INAS-FID was granted an extended deadline of January 31,
2003, to meet the conditions set by the IPC 2001 General Assembly
after several athletes were found guilty of cheating at the Sydney
2000 Paralympic Games by wrongly claiming to have an intellectual
disability. The IPC's conditions require athletes to present primary
rather than secondary documentation of their eligibility, for
INAS-FID to create and test a sport-specific eligibility system,
and for athletes with an intellectual disability to participate
at Paralympic Games under the same protest rules as all other
athletes. These conditions were fully accepted by INAS-FID in
October, 2002.
The IPC Management Committee recognized that some progress had
been made by INAS-FID, especially with regard to the development
of a more stringent verification procedure of documents that are
to prove an athlete's intellectual disability. However, INAS-FID
had fallen short of developing the sports specific component of
its eligibility system, and the development and implementation
of protest procedures in line with the IPC policy. Under these
circumstances the IPC decided that events for athletes with an
intellectual disability could not go ahead in a fair manner at
the 2004 Athens Paralympics, and that there was a risk of potential
cheating.
"The IPC will continue supporting INAS-FID in its efforts
to develop a new eligibility system and protest procedures which
comply with the IPC's conditions," said IPC President Phil
Craven today.
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National Disability Sports Alliance Announces New
Members to its Board of Directors
(Kingston, RI) January 31, 2003 - Phil Kreuter, PT, President of the National Disability Sports Alliance (NDSA) Board of Directors, has announced the addition of three new members to the Board who will serve until 2004. The three new members named to the Board of Directors are James R. Coney of Mineola, NY who will serve as Treasurer; Jessica Ranseshousen of Unionville, PA; and J.J. Lewis of Howell, MI. Coney, formerly Chief Financial Officer for the United States UNICEF Fund, is a consultant in the area of financial management. He has worked extensively with large metropolitan school districts to develop solid financial management plans. Ransehousen was a three-time Olympian in the equestrian sport of dressage and served as chef d'equipe (team coach) for three additional Olympic Games. She is currently the Vice President for Dressage for the United States Equestrian Team. Ransehousen is an FEI (international governing body for equestrian sports) "I" dressage judge and a "C" candidate judge for riders with disabilities. Lewis is the president of the Michigan Disability Sports Alliance (MiDSA) and is active in coaching and program development in the state of Michigan.
Coney, Ransehousen and Lewis join a Board that includes Kreuter (President,), Linda Mastrandrea (Vice President), Ann Modrcin, MD (Secretary), Denise Avolio, Tom Brown, Ross Davis, Jeffery Jones, Paul Tetreault, M.ED., Douglas McNeal, M.D., Grant Peacock III, PT, and Duncan Wyeth. Following is a brief biography of each member of the NDSA Board.
Phil Kreuter, PT of Sea Cliff, New York - President
Kreuter is a physical therapist and a partner in two private practice
physical therapy clinics on Long Island. Phil has been a coach
for several international teams and is a certified national and
international classifier.
Linda Mastandrea of Chicago, Illinois - Vice President
Mastandrea is a Paralympic athlete, having competed in wheelchair
track events. Linda won gold medals in the Atlanta Paralympic
Games in 1996 and has held several world records. By profession,
Linda is an attorney in Chicago, specializing in disability law.
Ann Modrcin, MD of Shawnee, Kansas - Secretary
Modrcin is a pediatric rehabilitation physician, on staff at Children's
Mercy Hospital of Kansas City. Ann also is on the Board of the
Sports and Recreation Committee for the American Academy of Cerebral
Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM) and the board of directors
for the Mid America Games.
Denise Avolio of Valhalla, New York
Avolio serves as NDSA's Sports Manager for Equestrian. She was
the Team Leader for the 2000 U.S. Paralympic Equestrian Team which
competed in Sydney. Denise is a member of the Executive Committee
of the International Paralympic Equestrian Committee.
NDSA is responsible for the conduct and administration of approved sports in the United States. NDSA formulates the rules, implements policies and procedures, conducts national championships in twelve sports, disseminates safety and sports medicine information and selects athletes to represent the United States in international competition. NDSA is a CBO (Community Based Organization) member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).
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Significant Progress Made
in Preparations for 2004 ParalympicsCONTACT: Ms.Miriam Wilkens, IPC Media and Communication Manager,
+49 228 209 7200; e-mail: Miriam.wilkens @paralympic.org or http://www.paralympic.org.
(Athens, Greece) January 30, 2003 - For the last three days the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and ATHENS 2004, the organising committee of the Paralympic Games, have held the third Paralympic Games Liaison Committee meeting in Athens, Greece. Significant progress has been made since the last Committee meeting eight months ago.
"The progress made is very encouraging. We now have less than 600 days to go to the opening of the Paralympic Games and we are entering into a critical phase," said Francois Terranova, Chairperson of the IPC Games Liaison Committee. "Good progress has been made in many areas, especially in transportation, accommodation and medical services. The preparations for the Paralympic Village are advancing well and we are satisfied with the present progress in making sure that the Village will meet all the necessary requirements for the Paralympic teams. We commend the good co-operation existing between the various Greek Ministries and Athens 2004 with regard to the Paralympic Games preparations."
On Monday of this week, the Greek Minster of Culture announced that also the Acropolis is to be made accessible. Furthermore, the Greek government has introduced new legislation on accessibility of public buildings, and non-compliance of this legislation will result in penalties.
Already now 110 National Paralympic Committees have confirmed their participation in the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games. Around 4,000 athletes are expected to compete in 20 sports at 19 venues during the Paralympics.
There are still some areas for the Paralympic Games which need to be further addressed such as the participation of the information technology partners, finalisation of the budget, and promotion of the Games, but we are confident that Athens 2004 is ready to take all necessary action needed.
The Paralympic Games are the equivalent of the Olympics for athletes with a disability. They will take place from September 17 to 28 2004, using the same venues and facilities as the Olympic Games.
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CONTACT: Vicky Moustaka, vpmousta@athens2004.com
(Athens, Greece) January 28, 2003 - A presentation on the progress of preparations for the Paralympic Games by ATHENS 2004 Managing Director Ioannis Spanudakis marked the start of joint discussions today at ATHENS 2004 headquarters between a delegation from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and ATHENS 2004 staff.
Planning in the transport sector is now complete, Mr Spanudakis specified to the delegation. Some three hundred buses capable of transporting people with disabilities will be used for meeting the needs of the Paralympic Games, among other duties. He also drew attention to the good progress of the Paralympic Village Operational Plan and of accommodations for the Paralympic Family and press reporters. Mr Spanudakis placed special emphasis on the question of access to Olympic Venues and to the city, particularly to Olympic and Paralympic municipalities. These questions are being dealt with in close cooperation with the appropriate state bodies, he stated. He concluded by reminding his audience that although important parts of the work had been completed, there was still much to deal with before the opening of the Paralympic Games.
"We are not here to carry out inspections, but to work with you," commented the head of the IPC delegation of seven, François Terranova. He commented to Mr Spanudakis that they were satisfied with the progress of work, particularly the enactment of legislation regarding access to public buildings. After the two-day discussions, the IPC delegation and representatives of ATHENS 2004 will give a joint Press Conference on Thursday, 30 January at 12.30 pm in the ATHENS 2004 Conference Centre (Iolkou & Filikis Eteria Streets, Nea Ionia).
For more information visit our website www.athens2004.com
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ATHENS 2004 Briefs IPC on Paralympic Games Preparations
CONTACT: Vicky Moustaka, vpmousta@athens2004.com
(Athens, Greece) January 27, 2003 - A delegation representing
the International Paralympics Committee (IPC) began a four-day
visit to Athens today, and was briefed by ATHENS 2004 executives
on the course of preparations for the 2004 Paralympic Games.
The head of the seven-member IPC delegation is Mr. Francois Terranova,
who is President of the Coordination Committee and Vice-President
of the IPC; while also participating are IPC Secretary General
Mr. Miguel Sagarra; Director of Coordination with Paralympic Games
Organising Committees, Mr Xavier Gonzales; Technical Official
Ms. Carol Mushett, as well as Medical Official Mr. Bjorn Hedman.
Also with them is the IPC Director of Sports, Mr. David Grevemberg,
and Ms. Miriam Wilkens who is responsible for Media and Communications.
The issues that will be discussed during the three days of deliberations
cover all sectors of preparations and, in particular, those of
hospitality, transport, sports, accreditation, press services,
the villages, radio and television services, technology, marketing
(sponsorship and licensing), tickets, Opening and Closing Ceremonies,
education, Olympic works, medical services, doping control, and
venue operations.
At the end of their deliberations, the representatives of the
International Paralympic Committee and the ATHENS 2004 Organising
Committee for the Olympic Games will hold a joint press conference.
This will take place at 12.30 on Thursday, January 30, in Conference
Centre located at ATHENS 2004 headquarters (Iolkou and Filikis
Eterias Streets, Nea Ionia).
For more information visit our website www.athens2004.com
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CONTACT: Marene Gustin, Communications Manager; Voice: 713-845-1135; Pager: 713-606-0199
(Houston, TX) January 13, 2003 - Adult Soccer teams from across the country will roll-in to the Bayou City to compete in the 21st Indoor Wheelchair Soccer (IWS) National Championship Finals, January 16 -18, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the famous Fonde Community Center, 110 Sabine at Memorial Drive.
Elite players with physical disabilities from cities such as New York, San Diego, Hartford, and Springfield will showcase their spirit, courage and determination in this free event hosted by the Houston Parks and Recreation Department in cooperation with the Greater Houston Athletic Association for the Physically Disabled.
Indoor Wheelchair soccer, a fast-paced high scoring game, is open to all individuals with physical disabilities that range from severe to minimal. Players in power wheelchairs play against players with minimal disabilities. This is unlike any other team sport. Players in powerchairs have won the MVP honors in two of the last five tournaments.
Championship games will be played on Saturday, January 18, starting at 12 noon. Immediately following the Championship games, the National Disability Sports Alliance (NDSA) will sponsor an All-Star game featuring the best players from all the teams.
NDSA, ASAP Medical Supply, and the employees of Metro are proud sponsors of the IWS Championship. This event is open to the public. For more information, call the Greater Houston Athletic Association at 832-689-6469.
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America's First National Youth Indoor Wheelchair
Soccer Tournament Announced
CONTACT: Sarah Nash, Director of Communication, American Association of AdaptedSports™ Programs, Inc., Tel 404/294-0070/Fax 404/294-5758; Email: nashcom@bellsouth.net; Web: www.aaasp.org
(Atlanta, GA) January 6, 2003 - The American Association of AdaptedSports™ Programs (AAASP - pronounced 'asp') presents America's first national youth indoor wheelchair soccer tournament, the 2003 Coast to Coast Indoor Wheelchair Soccer Junior Nationals, on President's Day Weekend, February 14-16, 2003. Ten teams from two states, Georgia and California, will compete for the championship.
Dekalb County Georgia's Avondale Middle School will serve as the host site for tournament play. In addition to the DeKalb County School System, several community partners have stepped forward to assist in making this tournament a success: The Georgia Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities, Mighty Auto Parts, the Decatur-DeKalb YMCA, Crown Trophy, and the UGA Sports Business Club. Many more Atlanta-area businesses will be added to this list in the coming weeks.
Tournament details will be available at www.aaasp.org in the coming weeks.
About AAASP
Since 1996, AAASP has made competitive after-school adapted athletics
a possibility for hundreds of Georgia students in grades one through
12. Week after week throughout the school year, these kids are
active in leagues comparable to interscholastic sports accessible
for decades to youth who are not disabled.
AAASP's statewide success led to the historic affiliation with the Georgia High School Association (GHSA). This alliance made AAASP the nation's first organization serving physically disabled students to be recognized as the governing and sanctioning body for interscholastic adapted athletics on behalf of a member of the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS). By setting this precedent, Georgia becomes the leading example by which the United States can make interscholastic athletics for students with physical disabilities or visual impairments a common part of our education process. For information, visit www.aaasp.org.
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CONTACT: Dr. Susanne Reiff, IPC Director of Media and Communication on +49 228 209 7200, e-mail: Susanne.reiff@paralympic.org or http://www.paralympic.org.
(October 15, 2002, Bonn, Germany) - The IPC Executive Committee
determined the events programme for the 2004 Paralympic Games
in Athens at a meeting in Bonn last weekend. Athletes will compete
in around 500 medal events in 18 sports. The selected events reflect
the IPC's commitment to support female athletes and those with
severe disabilities. For example, Judo and Sitting Volleyball
will be offered for women for the first time. In Boccia and Wheelchair
Tennis, new events were added, which cater for athletes with severe
disabilities. Events for athletes with intellectual disabilities
(ID) have not been included in the programme at this point. A
final decision will be taken at the end of January 2003.
At the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, several athletes had cheated and competed in events for intellectually disabled athletes, although they did not meet the eligibility criteria. The IPC and INAS-FID, the international sports federation for athletes with intellectual disabilities, have worked together since then to establish an eligibility system and protest procedures which will prevent such incidents from happening again. The IPC President said that he was pleased with the progress made towards the establishment of a new eligibility system, which must have a strong focus on the athletes' sport specific abilities. INAS-FID announced that it now fully accepts the IPC's conditions for ID-events with full medal status being included in all IPC-sanctioned competitions; but it acknowledged that it does not meet these criteria yet. The IPC Executive Committee decided to give INAS-FID the opportunity to continue developing a new eligibility system. However, a final decision concerning the inclusion of ID-events in the programme of the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games will be taken January 2003.
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