Wounded Warriors Special Appearance July 29

Armchair General

WOUNDED WARRIORS MAKE SPECIAL APPEARANCE AT THE O&P EXTREMITY GAMES

Kayaking Demo Slated for Saturday, July 29 at 1 p.m.

Rockville, Md. – – (July 18, 2006) – – Soldiers and Marines severely wounded in the war in Iraq will participate with nearly 100 other competitors in the first annual O&P Extremity Games sponsored by College Park Industries and sanctioned by Disabled Sports USA (DS/USA). The games will be held July 28-30 at the Orlando Watersports Complex, Orlando, Fla., and will feature competitions and “learn to” clinics in skateboarding, wakeboarding, BMX biking, rock climbing, and kayaking. Winners will share a $25,000 cash purse. Individuals, 13 years and older, living with limb loss or limb difference are eligible to compete.

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Fifteen amputee soldiers and Marines will participate as members of Disabled Sports USA’s Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project. “While some of the attending veterans may also compete, the main focus will be their participation in instruction clinics in kayaking and other sports as part of their rehabilitation and re-integration back to an active life,” said Kirk Bauer, Executive Director of Disabled Sports USA, and a disabled Vietnam veteran. “We applaud College Park for taking the initiative to present these games.”

Under the direction of Joe Mornini, organizer of Team River Runners, a chapter of DS/USA, the Wounded Warriors will participate in a flat-water kayaking race and a play-boating demonstration. The special kayaking event is slated for Saturday, July 29, at 1 p.m.

The day after the official competition, July 30, the O&P Extremity Games will offer free instructional sporting clinics from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Instructors will be on hand to provide useful tips and technical instruction, practice, review and repetition in skateboarding, rock climbing, wakeboarding and BMX biking. These free clinics are open to all individuals living with limb loss or limb difference.

“DS/USA is pleased to be involved with College Park in this exciting inaugural event that gives amputee soldiers and Marines an opportunity to get active and to display their athletic skills,” Bauer said.  “We know the event will be a great success and plan to get more soldiers and Marines involved next year.”

For information on the O&P Extremity Games by College Park Industries, go to www.extremitygames.com or contact Beth Geno at 586.354.2260.