COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. ? U.S. Paralympics, in partnership with the Lakeshore Foundation, is bringing world wheelchair super powers USA and Canada together to do battle as part of U.S. Paralympicsí ìThe America Series.î ìThe America Seriesî is a national program initiative 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 USA-Canada match-up features the menís and womenís national teams in wheelchair basketball and the national teams in wheelchair rugby. The two countries have the top-two ranked teams in the world in these sports. The competition, called the ìNorth American Cup,î pits each U.S. squad against its Canadian counterpart June 14 at the Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham, Ala. The winner in each contest scores one point for their respective country, with the country accumulating the most points coming away with a potential $10,000 prize purse.
ìThis innovative event allows us to play a significant role in U.S. Paralympicsí important initiative to provide high-quality international competition opportunities on U.S. soil,î said Ronda Jarvis-Ray, Lakeshoreís Chief Program Officer. ìWe are also very pleased that womenís national teams are integrated into this event, an element often not found in elite Paralympic sport competition.î
The Series is being developed in collaboration with Olympic-member National Governing Bodies and disabled sports organization partners to utilize existing venues and events, providing maximum exposure to Paralympic participants. The 2003 Series also includes events in track and field, wheelchair road racing, judo, table tennis and wheelchair fencing. U.S. Paralympics sport administrators hope to expand the Series in coming years to include all Paralympic sports.
The events are also being used as platforms to enhance local and regional outreach efforts to promote health and wellness initiatives for children and individuals with physical disabilities.
ìThe America Series will promote opportunities for current and aspiring athletes while educating communities about the Paralympic movement,î said Jen Remick, the communications director for the Lakeshore Foundation.
As wheelchair basketball and rugby athletes continue to prepare for the Paralympic Games, Sept. 17-28, 2004, in Athens, Greece, the North American Cup will provide them an opportunity to gauge themselves against their primary competition.
ìWeíre dedicated to providing our athletes with the best competition opportunities possible as they prepare for Athens,î U.S. Paralympics CEO Charlie Huebner said. ìWeíre excited to partner with the Lakeshore Foundation, and weíre confident that the North American Cup will quickly become a premier competition within these respective sports.î
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