Safe Sport Campaign of Team USA

Statistics on child sexual assault are staggering. Adults may intimidate or coerce a child to engage in harmful acts. National media stories revealed instances when abuse was suspected, but not reported to law enforcement.

Emotional and physical effects on victims may be long-lasting, including fear, self-blame and distrust. Learn more about TEAM USA Safe Sport Campaign, action to prevent child assault and abuse.

Together, athletes, parents, coaches, trainers and meet officials act to protect privacy and insure safety of young athletes. This includes:

• conducting criminal background checks of coaches and volunteers 
• training all about related federal and state laws requiring reporting suspected sexual assault and legal penalties for offenders
• monitoring locker rooms and rules against adults being alone with children who are not members of their family
• limiting unauthorized photos of youth
• checking credentials during meets.

During the first day of Trials for USA Paralympic Swimming, seven American records and three Pan American records were set by seven different athletes; nine records were in breaststroke events reported Joe Clarke.
 
Competition continued in Charlotte beginning this morning in the 50 backstroke, 100 butterfly, 50 butterfly and 50 freestyle.  Final heats are scheduled for this evening. 

(Photo: teamusa.org)

Athletes and coaches represent many states and athletic organizations. Families arrived early wearing red, white and blue and carrying posters and shakers in support of their favorite swimmers.  For full results, visit USParalympics.org/2016TeamTrials

 

This duckling may be an aspiring Paralympian!

(Photo: sutcliffed.jalbum.net)










Staff of USA Paralympics, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Aquatic Center, Partners in Parks and Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority did a great job recruiting officials, preparing facilities, training volunteers and providing hospitality for a successful event!

#ParalympicTrials

(Photo: teamusa.org)  

*Officials respectfully requested that spectator do not take photos that may distract athletes or violate privacy; stock images are featured.

Track and field events -US Paralympics

Spectacular performances by female and male athletes in long jump, javelin, discus, sprints, 800 meter run in Charlotte, NC. Supportive coaches, families and teammates cheered participants to achieve their personal best! Helpful staff of USOC and Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation were joined by hundreds of volunteers and sponsors for successful events. Competition continues this weekend...Go TEAM USA!

Getting ready for Rio 2016 Summer Games!

Getting ready for Rio 2016 Summer Olympics.  Brazilian President Yousseff and Rio 2016 President Nuzman light the Olympic torch in Rio.

(Photo: cnn.com)

(Photo: accesspress.org)

 

More than 2,000 medals were cast for the 2016 Games. Medals feature images of Nike, the Panathinaiko Stadium and the Acropolis (Photo: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro), and were produced according to strict sustainability criteria.  Gold was extracted without use of mercury; silver and bronze medals feature 30% recycled metals.

For Paralympian medalists, a design innovation is insertion of a tiny device inside which makes a noise when the medal is shaken, allowing visually impaired athletes to know if they are gold, silver or bronze.  Gold has the loudest noise, bronze the quietest.

Amazing power runners in Charlotte today!

Track and Field Team Trials began in Charlotte this morning!

Dedicated volunteers arrived at Johnson C Smith University Track and Field Arena early this morning; none were deterred by rainy weather. Colorful license plates in the parking lot revealed athletes, coaches and families traveled to NC from across the country. We set up our station to credential athletes, distributing race bibs, towels and string bags. Athletes came to The Tar Heel State to compete at an elite level.


Amazing effort during Men's track and field Team Trials in Charlotte today! It's hard to describe how fast these athletes complete a trial unless you see it up close!  As volunteers, we feel inspired by the level of enthusiasm and extreme effort displayed by athletes from across the Nation competing for their chance to travel to Rio this summer.

There were disappointments...one young man felt too much pain to compete and left the track disappointed. Another suffered failure of his prosthetic leg during the race. Break until the trials continue for men and women this evening.

#ParalympicTrials

Charlotte, the Queen City

Learn more about Charlotte, NC, The Queen City, site of 2016 US Paralympics Team Trials this week.  Count 'em down, 101 Things to Do in Charlotte, http://www.charlottesgotalot.com/101-fun-things-to-do-in-charlotte

(Skyline photos: CharlottGotAlot) 

Follow at https://twitter.com/CharlottGotAlot

Paralympic Cycling

Excerpts from US Paralympics NEWS (June 29, Brianna Tammaro)...

The nation’s best Paralympic cyclists will put everything on the line at the 2016 U.S. Time Trial in North Carolina. Athletes will race against the clock on a 7.3 kilometer course. 

(Photo: teamusa.org)

Represented in the field are two reigning time trial road world champions—Shawn Morelli of Kansas, and Jamie Whitmore of California. Nineteen active duty and military veterans, including U.S. Army veterans Morelli and Tom Davis of Indiana, will compete.  Other veterans to watch are U.S. Marine Corps veterans Scott Martin and Oz Sanchez, both of California, and Will Groulx of Oregon, a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

On the women’s side, Samantha Bosco of Florida) will compete to make her first Olympic Games against U.S. Army veteran and two-time Paralympian Jennifer Schuble of Birmingham, Alabama.
Team USA heads into the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games as the world’s top-ranked nation in track, road and overall team for the International Cycling Union (UCI) standings. For more information on the 2016 U.S. Paralympics Cycling Time Trial, visit USParalympics.org/2016TeamTrials.

Paralympic Team Trials

The Paralympic Movement began in 2001 to inspire Americans to achieve their dreams.  The MISSION of the U.S. Olympic Committee is To support U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes in achieving sustained competitive excellence while demonstrating the values of the Olympic Movement, thereby inspiring all Americans.

This week, elite athletes are competing in Team Trials in different cities across the Nation. Finalists will join TEAM USA and represent our country in Rio2016 this summer. In Charlotte, NC, hundreds of Paralympians will compete in cycling, track and field and swimming.  All athletes are an inspiration...GO TEAM USA!

#ParalympicTrials