Olympic Sailors Train Disabled Americans to Participate in 2008 Paralympics

Olympic Sailors Train Disabled Americans to Participate in 2008 Paralympics

TeamPARADISE Launched at Shake-A-Leg Miami, One of the Largest Community Water Sports Centers in the World

Miami, Jan. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- A group of veteran Olympic sailors from around the world have announced the establishment of the first-ever national and international program to pair Olympic medallists with the disabled, in an effort to ensure that physically challenged athletes, including the blind, become strong enough sailors to participate in, and become champions at, the 2008 Paralympic Games and beyond.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050127/FLTH035 )

Magnus Liljedahl, winner of the Star Class Sailing 2000 Olympic Gold Medal for the USA, is spearheading the newly named TeamPARADISE effort in Coconut Grove, FL. The program, which teaches racing skills to the disabled, is being established under the auspices of Shake-A-Leg Miami(SALM), one of the largest, fully accessible community water sports centers in the world. Established in 1990, it is dedicated to improving the independence of people with disabilities and youth by making water sports accessible and safe for able- bodied, the disabled and the underprivileged. Interested Americans are invited to participate for free. Affordable short and long-term accommodations can be arranged by SALM.

Competitive sailing, often called "blue water chess," is particularly suited for the physically challenged because of its reliance on brainpower more than raw strength. TeamPARADISE participants will therefore spend much of their time sailing and learning skills through on-the-water drills, practice starts and short races that pit them against the very best sailors on the globe.

The program emphasizes teamwork to inspire its students to overlook their handicaps and reach for their loftiest goals. The program's motto, "the reward is in the journey," was chosen to reflect the Olympic ideal of pure competition.

"Part of our mission here is to broaden and deepen the pool of disabled participants at the elite level," said Harry Horgan, co-founder and executive director of Shake-A-Leg Miami. He noted that even the most severely disabled can participate in and enjoy sailing. "We open our doors to people with disabilities and their families from anywhere in the U.S. and beyond to come sail with us."

A glittering group of Olympic medallists has agreed to participate in the program, including Olympic Gold medallist Kevin Burnham; 2000 Olympic Bronze medallist Freddy Loof of Sweden; the 2003 Rolex Yachtsman of the year Augie Diaz; and the 1992 USA Olympic Silver medallist Morgan Reeser. Other internationally renowned sailors committed to coaching TeamPARADISE will soon be announced.

For additional information on TeamPARADISE, visit http://www.teamparadise.org/ . For more information on Shake-A-Leg Miami, visit http://www.shakealegmiami.org/ , or telephone 305 858-5550.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050127/FLTH035
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Shake-A-Leg Miami

CONTACT: Magnus Liljedahl, +1-305-776-8778, or Harry Horgan,
+1-305-858-5550, both for Shake-A-Leg Miami

Web site: http://www.teamparadise.org/
http://www.shakealegmiami.org/


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