EVENT: 7th Annual Endeavor Games at UCO
DATE: June 8-11
The 7th Annual Endeavor Games for Athletes with Physical Disabilities, conducted by UCO Disabled Sports and Events, will be held at the University of Central Oklahoma and Deer Creek High School June 8-11.
The Endeavor Games was created in 2000 when a need was found for a multi-sport event for athletes with physical disabilities. In 2005, 308 athletes competed in ten sports, traveling from 28 states and three countries.
For 2006, the Endeavor Games will host athletes competing in the sports of archery, junior and adult 3-on-3-wheelchair basketball, boccia, powerlifting, shooting, track and field, tennis, table tennis, wheelchair softball and swimming.
For the second year, the Endeavor Games staff has added a day to the schedule. Thursday, June 8th will be a day of clinics for athletes and coaches. The sport clinics will be offered in conjunction with BlazeSports America, Disabled Sports USA and Paralympic Academy.
Clinics are open to all athletes and coaches. There is no registration fee for athletes and coaches’ registration fee is $20, which will include lunch. The sports include archery, cycling, sit volleyball and tennis.
Also, the Endeavor Games is pleased to partner with Disabled Sports USA (a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee) and the Wounded Warriors Project (a project of The United Spinal Association) once again to welcome our nation’s protectors as they realize their potential as athletes.
These special guests are members of the U.S. military services who have received permanent physically disabling injuries while serving the United States of America in Iraq and in the Global War on Terrorism. These guests will participate in hands-on instruction in the sports of wheelchair tennis, sit volleyball, cycling, archery and the First Step Clinic (track) on Friday.
The Endeavor Games will offer airfare, lodging, meals, travel expenses and full passes for all events of the 2006 Endeavor Games to 10 soldiers and one guest. This experience will introduce these veterans to an empowering and new realm of possibility.
In addition to the clinics, the Games will feature an Opening Ceremony on Friday, June 9th at UCO’S Hamilton Field House. The Opening Ceremonies will feature the 2005 Endeavor Games video, a Parade of Athletes, special guest speaker and a tribute to our Special Military Guests.
Another special addition to the 2006 Endeavor Games is the Ultimate Endeavor Invitational. This will be an invitation-only competition on Saturday, following the morning track competition. Paralympic amputee athletes from five different countries will compete in the 100 meters and the long jump. These elite athletes will compete in an internationally sanctioned competition in hopes of setting world records.
“This invitational is a great opportunity for our younger competitors to see these elite athletes in their element,” said Shelly Ramsey, Event Coordinator for UCO Disabled Sports and Events. “Hopefully we will see history in the making with a new world record.”
After the conclusion of Sunday’s competition, athletes, spectators and friends will be invited to join the staff of UCO Disabled Sports and Events at a casual banquet at 1 p.m. After lunch, athletes will have the opportunity to view a video of the 2006 competition that took place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This presentation is courtesy of EVP Creative and DS/USA.
The entry fee for the competition is $25 for one sport (track and field is considered one sport), $30 for two sports, and $35 for three or more. The fee includes a participant T-shirt, athlete goodie bag, participation in the opening ceremony, lunch on Saturday and lunch on Sunday.
Athletes also will be awarded Olympic-style gold, silver, and bronze medals for first, second and third place in each event entered. Entry fees must be received by May 17.
Sponsors of the event include Title sponsor, University of Central Oklahoma; Platinum sponsor, Valir Rehabilitation Hospital; Gold sponsors, Disabled Sports USA and the Wounded Warriors Project, Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics, Bob Howard Auto Group and Renda Broadcasting.
For more information on the event, contact Ramsey at 1.405.974.3151 or sramsey2@ucok.edu.