FALL 2014 PARALYMPIC EXPERIENCE
Sunday, November 16 1:00-4:30 PM Harvard University Athletic Complex 65 North Harvard Street Boston 02134
Adaptive Sports New England will coordinate the Fall 2014 Paralympic Experience for youth and adults who have visual or mobility impairments on Sunday, November 16 from 1:00-4:30 PM in collaboration with Harvard Athletics and in conjunction with the New England Wheelchair Tennis Camp also being held at Harvard that weekend. We anticipate that the Paralympic Experience will attract 150-200 youth and adults from eastern Massachusetts.
The Paralympic Experience will feature active introduction to several Paralympic sports as well as information on where those sports are regularly practiced in eastern Massachusetts and across New England. Information about other sports will be available from New England’s best adaptive and inclusive programs. Affinity stations for triathlon, swimming, road racing, young athletes, high school athletes, women and veterans will target information to these groups.
Sports available to try: Sports with information only Track & Field (running and wheelchair) Alpine Skiing Tennis (standing and wheelchair) Snowboarding Wheelchair Basketball skills & drills Wheelchair Curling Soccer (standing) Wheelchair Rugby Rowing (all groups - simulated on erg) Power Soccer Cross Country Skiing (all groups – simulated) Climbing Sled Hockey Triathlon Squash Goalball Hiking and Snowshoeing Wheelchair softball & Beep baseball
Equipment and staffing Each sport station will be hosted by a local Paralympic Sport Club or other leading adaptive sport organization (list attached). Equipment will be provided. Harvard student athletes will assist with sport activities and with operations of the Experience.
Format Track, tennis, rowing, xc-skiing, squash and basketball skills will be drop-in, 5-10 minute clinics with individualized coaching. Twenty-minute soccer clinics will begin at 2:00 and 3:00. Sled hockey will run from 3:30-4:30 and may be divided up into shorter sessions depending on participant demand. Organizations sharing information about programs will be in Gordon Indoor Track.
Schedule 12:00 Organizers and co-hosts begin set-up 12:15 Volunteer briefing and assignment 1:00 Paralympic Experience opens 3:30 Sled Hockey (on ice at 3:45) 4:30 Paralympic Experience ends (ice time ends 4:45) 6:00 Participants, organizers and co-hosts departed
Facilities Gordon Indoor Track – Track & Field, Rowing, XC Skiing, registration and exhibits Bright-Landry Hockey Center – Sled Hockey Muir Center – Tennis, Wheelchair Basketball skills, Soccer
Marketing and Publicity Adaptive Sports New England announced the Paralympic experience on Friday, October 17. Co- hosts will share the announcement from October 20 through November 16. Promotion is underway through Greater Boston disability service organizations; additional announcements will be made to area high schools and school districts. Adaptive Sports New England is taking an active role on Facebook utilizing co-host sites, groups and networks. Other activity will be managed between now and November 16.
CONTACTS: Joe Walsh, President Michael Mercier, Head Tennis Professional Adaptive Sports New England Harvard University Mobile: 617.690.9103 Mobile: 978-273-6500 [email protected] [email protected] www.adaptivesportsne.org
Paralympic Experience Co-hosts Held in conjunction with New England Wheelchair Sports Spaulding Adaptive Sport Centers Community Rowing, Inc. New England Nordic Ski Association Access Sport America Mass Hockey New England Wheelchair Tennis Camp Cape Cod Curling Club Held at Harvard November 15-16 Northeast Passage (UNH) Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sport (VT) Waterville Valley Adaptive (NH) Hospital for Special Care (CT) Gaylord Hospital (CT) Granite State Adaptive (NH) Eastern Adaptive Sports (NH) Adaptive Sport Partners of the North Country (NH) Youth Enrichment Services - YES