NDSA National Sports Festival Hosts Successful Week of Competition for Athletes with Physical Disabilities

The seventh annual National Disability Sports Alliance (NDSA) National Sports Festival for athletes with physical disabilities wrapped up an impressive week of competition that brought numerous athletes from across the country to compete for top honors at Connecticut College in New London, CT.

The NDSA National Sports Festival, held June 21-26, included top-level competition in Boccia, Bowling, Indoor Wheelchair Soccer, Powerlifting, and Track & Field.  The event showcased athletic talent while providing athletes with opportunities to compete against others of similar age and abilities.  A spirit of camaraderie and excitement permeated every aspect of competition throughout the week as athletes not only participated in various sports, but also created life-long friendships.

"I really hope I'll do well," one athlete remarked. "But it won't matter because I'm just so glad to be here! I've been looking for a place where I can compete in sports with other people just like me, and I was so happy when I found the National Sports Festival!  Now I have lots of friends and lots of good memories!"

Competitors at the NDSA National Sports Festival typically have disabilities such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida and spinal cord injuries, amputation, visual impairment, and traumatic brain injuries, yet they demonstrate a tenacity, a highly competitive spirit and a drive to excel that is not often equaled in the able-bodied community.

"I couldn't just sit around all day and think about my situation," another athlete commented.  "I went looking for an outlet in which my disability wouldn't matter. That's why I made the trip up to the NDSA National Sports Festival in Connecticut!"

This year's NDSA National Sports Festival also launched the one-year countdown to the 2005 CP-ISRA (Cerebral Palsy - International Sports & Recreation Association) World Championships.  Approximately 1,000 athletes from 40-50 countries, including the United States, are expected to converge at Connecticut College to vie for championships in nine athletic disciplines.

"NDSA is excited at the prospect of bringing the CP-ISRA World Championships to the United States for the first time ever," said NDSA President Phil Kreuter at a kick-off reception hosted by National Sports Festival Director Bill Wilkie and Connecticut College President Norman Fainstein.  "The annual success of our National Sports Festival has led to this opportunity and we consider it a great honor."

Without the generous support it receives from commuinty-minded organizations, the NDSA National Sports Festival could not hope to be the extraordinary event that it is.  Major sponsors of the 2004 NDSA National Sports Festival include Mohegan Sun, U.S. Food Service/Norwich, and Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics.  The NDSA National Sports Festival is also supported by the Village Print Shop, Bristol Meyers-Squibb, Rehabilitation Hospital of Connecticut, the Tolland Fund, Inc., SNET Pioneers, Hospital for Special Care, Banana Boat, and Coca Cola.

The National Disability Sports Alliance (NDSA) is responsible for 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).

For more information, including complete competition results, please visit www.nationalsportsfestival.org or www.ndsaonline.org or call (860) 267-6757.