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United
States Riders With Disabilities to Compete at 2003 I.P.E.C.
Dressage World Championships |
Kingston,
RI—May 12, 2003—The United States will send a team to
compete in the fifth International Paralympic Equestrian Committee
(I.P.E.C.) Dressage World Championships, September 2-7, 2003 in
Moorseles, Belgium.
More
than 125 riders with a disability from 35 countries are expected
to compete at the four-day Championships. Participants will compete
in Individual Championship tests and Musical Freestyles as well
as a Team test. Competitions will be open to riders at all four
recognized Grades of physical disability.
For
the first time in the history of the I.P.E.C., riders will be
competing on “own horses,” those that are leased or
borrowed by the teams and individuals competing. There will not
be a draw for horses to be provided by the competition, as was
previously done at the 1996 and 2000 Paralympic Games and all
past World Championships. This change will dramatically increase
the level and quality of international competition for riders
with disabilities.
“The
World Championships are the major focus of 2003 for our country’s
riders with physical disabilities,” said Denise Avolio, Equestrian
Program Manager for the National Disability Sports Alliance (NDSA),
the organization that coordinates activities for riders with physical
disabilities. “Recent years have seen increased participation
and increased programs for our riders and we are indebted to all
who support our efforts with financial contributions. Without
the support of these generous individuals, our riders would not
be able to take advantage of many opportunities.”
In
addition to the prestige of winning at such a high-level competition,
top-finishing teams and individuals will earn places for their
country’s athletes to participate in the 2004 Paralympic
Games in Athens, Greece.
The
National Disability Sports Alliance is the national governing
body for equestrian sport for equestrian athletes with disabilities.
The non-profit organization is responsible for the development
and selection of riders for national championships and international
competitions, including World Championships and the Paralympic
Games, and provides training, competition and advocacy for riders
of all levels with physical disabilities. For more information
about NDSA and opportunities to support the programs, please visit
our website at www.ndsaequestrian.org
or contact Denise Avolio at (914) 949-8166 or diavolio@ndsaonline.org.
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