Paralympic preparations

The U.S. Paralympic Team Trials are set to take place on October

Racing for the U.S. Paralympic Team Trials will be held over 3-14 October in Newport US Sailing, announced today. The Paralympic Trial events will be hosted by the Rhode Island Sailing Foundation and Sail Newport. Sailors will compete in the three events selected for the 2008 Paralympic Regatta in Qingdao, China: 2.4 Metre, SKUD-18 and Sonar.

Only sailors who are eligible to represent the USA at the Paralympic Games are able to compete in the 2008 U.S. Paralympic Team Trials. Upon approval from the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), the athletes who win the Trials will be named part of the U.S. Paralympic Team and will compete in the Paralympic Regatta, to be held 6-17 September, 2008 in Qingdao, China.

"The USOC is excited to be working in partnership with US Sailing, the Rhode Island Sailing Foundation and Sail Newport as we prepare for selection of the 2008 U.S. Paralympic Team. The Trials will identify what we expect will be the most competitive U.S. Paralympic Sailing Team ever. Sailing will be the first sport to conduct trials for 2008, and we are confident that US Sailing and the local organizers will set a high standard for quality of the Trials competition," said Joe Walsh, Managing Director of the USOC's Paralympic Division.