Paralympics Ontario, E-Newsletter

							Over The Line - Paralympics Ontario E-Newsletter

Editor’s Note: This is the accessible version of the Paralympics
Ontario Newsletter.

To contact the editor, call Elisabeth Walker-Young, at 416-426-7188 or
toll free at 1-800-265-1539 or email lis@paralympicsontario.ca

If you have any recommendations to make this more accessible
please contact the editor.

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In This Issue:
1. Winner of the E-Newsletter Naming Contest

2. What’s with Mentorship?
3. Sarnia Set to Outclass Themselves in 2007

4. Winter Regionals, the First Time Ever!

5. Beijing Closer Than it Seems!

6. Countdown Corner
7. Special Points of Interest

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1) Congratulations to Rachelle Halpenny for winning the Naming of
the Paralympics Ontario Newsletter! Thank you everyone for your
great ideas.

2) What’s with mentorship?
Presenting one of two of Paralympics Ontario’s latest initiatives called
the Coach/Athlete Mentorship Program, the purpose of this program
is to provide specialized information to a targeted audience of new
and prospective coaches. These registrants will learn from current
established coaches and athletes alike, thus the use of the term
mentorship. A one-day session will be spilt into two components,
beginning with a classroom setting and wrapping up with a coach to
athlete skills specific session on the field of play. A Paralympic athlete
will be in attendance to showcase the elite level of the sport, through
demonstrations and /or through speaking from personal experiences.
A mix of athletes will be on hand to work with the new coaching
recruits providing concrete examples and demonstrating of a variety
of skill levels.    The Coach/Athlete Mentorship Program is focusing
on the following sports for the 2006-2007 season; Wheelchair
Athletics, Wheelchair Curling, Wheelchair Tennis, Swimming and
Sledge Hockey. If you are interested in participating or think your
sport would be a good fit, please contact Elisabeth Walker Young,
Program Manager at Paralympics Ontario. 416-426-7188

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3)    Sarnia se t to O utclass The mselve s in 2007


The Ontario Paralympic Summer Championship (OPSC) is going to
Sarnia! The Championships will be getting a new look as they will
now be incorporating a new sport. Sarnia hosted these
Championships only a few years ago, in 2003. For those of you who
attended, you will recall they were very successful. This time around,
the bar has been raised by the host committee themselves. There is
a proposal to host a demo sport, as yet to be determined. The OPSC
2007 will be held June 22-24. Athletics, Boccia, Goalball,
Powerlifting, W/C Tennis as well as a new sport (yet o be
determined) are on the schedule. Stay tuned for further info and
updates as they occur. The Championship website is:
www.visitsarnia.com/2007opsc . Visit now and often!
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4)     Winter Regionals, the 1st time ever!

Paralympics is excited to announce for the first time in PO history
Regionals Games for 4 Winter sports.

Wheelchair Curling, January 13, 2007, Collingwood

Alpine Ski, Feb2-4, 2007, Caledon

X-Country Ski, March 3-4, 2007, Duntroon
Sledge Hockey, April 13-15, Kitchener

Please contact Erin Hamilton for further information.
erin@paralympicsontario.ca or 416-426-7426

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5)         Beijing is closer than it seems!
Recently named Chef de Mission for the Canadian Team, Debbie Low,
has just returned from one of what will be many site visits to Beijing.
When asked to share something from her latest trip she shares this:
 “The 2008 Beijing Games will provide one of the most compact
Paralympic venues plans to date, as almost all venue are within a 15-
minute drive of each other, and of the Village. The exceptions are
sailing to be staged in Qingdao and equestrian in Hong Kong.”
The 2008 Paralympic Games mascot is a pink, turquoise, yellow and
green cow, called, Fu Niu Lele.

Set your goals now, Beijing is just around the corner!

The Official Games website can be accessed through the
International Paralympic Committee (IPC) website or you can insert
the following link:
http://en.beijing2008.com/83/66/column211716683.shtml
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6)               Countdown Corner
134 days until Regionals registration opens
200 days until OPSC 2007
613 days to Beijing 2008
417 days until OPWC 2008
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7)            Special Points of Interest
a. Coaching Clinics are coming to Paralympics Ontario
b. Regional Games dates and locations to be announced early 2007
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8)         Visit the Paralympics Ontario website for updated calendar
     of events and much more! www.paralympicsontario.ca