FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Paralympian John Register to address Celebration of Sport reception

 U.S. Paralympian John Register will speak at a reception honoring excellence in sport in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 10. The annual Celebration of Sport Reception, hosted by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), will take place at the national convention of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), April 8 -12, 2008. The reception is open to all convention attendees. Register's appearance is made possible by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).

At the reception, NASPE members in the fields of coaching, athletic training, athletic administration, sport management and youth sport will be recognized. Honors will include District Athletic Directors of the Year, Athletic Director Presidential Hall of Fame, Sport Management Outstanding Achievement and Hall of Fame for Sport. The event is sponsored by the National Strength and Conditioning Association Certification Committee (NSCA-CC).

John Register

After growing up in Oakbrook, Illinois, just west of Chicago, John Register went on to an impressive career at the University of Arkansas on scholarships in track-and-field and music. In 1988, Register graduated with a degree in communications and continued to focus on track and field with the hope for a shot at the Olympics. While training for the 1996 Olympic Games, Register severed a major artery in his leg after landing awkwardly after clearing a hurdle. The injury cut off circulation in the leg and ultimately resulted in amputation.

Despite the sudden and tragic life change, Register continued to participate in sport. He learned management of sport programs with the U.S. Army's World Class Athletes (WCA) program. Register also became involved with disabled sport organizations such as Disabled Sports USA (DS/USA) and the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF). Register participated in the 1996 Paralympics as a swimmer. In 1999, he held the U.S. record in the long jump; in 2000 at the Sydney, Australia Paralympics, he won a silver medal.

As a strong disabilities-rights advocate, Register seeks to enrich the lives of people with disabilities and hopes to positively shift public attitude of disability through disabled sports. Register recently received the Paul G. Hearne American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) Leadership Award which recognizes emerging leaders with disabilities. He currently serves as Associate Director of Outreach and Development of the USOC Paralympic Division.

USOC Olympic Week

Olympic Week in America will be observed May 5-9, 2008. The USOC program was created for educators' use in expanding student awareness and appreciation of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Olympic Movement. Lesson plans and activities for grades kindergarten through eighth enhance core curricula taught in the classroom. Through a focus on the Olympic Games, particularly the Olympic Games in Beijing, students will reinforce their skills in language arts, social studies, math, science, and physical education. Materials are available free to educators at www.usolympicteam.com Educators may access the materials by clicking on the Olympic Academy-Education and Outreach icon.

NASPE

The preeminent national authority on physical education and a recognized leader in sport and physical activity, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) is a non-profit professional membership association that sets the standard for practice in physical education and sport. NASPE's 16,000 members include: K-12 physical education teachers, coaches, athletic directors, athletic trainers, sport management professionals, researchers, and college/university faculty who prepare physical activity professionals. NASPE seeks to enhance knowledge, improve professional practice, and increase support for high quality physical education, sport and youth physical activity programs through research, development of standards, and dissemination of information. It is the largest of the five national associations that make the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (AAHPERD). To assess whether your child is receiving a quality physical education program, visit www.naspeinfo.org/observe PE for an observation assessment tool.

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Contact:
Paula Keyes Kun
pkun@aahperd.org 
(703) 476-3461

The preeminent national authority on physical education and a recognized leader in sport and physical activity, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) is a non-profit professional membership association that sets the standard for practice in physical education and sport. NASPE’s 15,000 members include: K-12 physical education teachers, coaches, administrators, researchers, and college/university faculty who prepare professionals in these areas. NASPE seeks to enhance knowledge, improve professional practice, and increase support for high-quality physical education, sport and physical activity programs. It is the largest of the five national associations that make up the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (AAHPERD). For more information, visit www.naspeinfo.org.

The vision of AAHPERD is "Healthy People – Physically Educated and Physically Active!" Headquartered in Reston, VA, 25 miles west of Washington, DC, AAHPERD is the largest organization of professionals involved in physical education, physical activity, dance, school health and sport--all specialties related to achieving an active, healthy lifestyle. Its mission is to advance professional practice and promote research related to health and physical education, physical activity, dance and sport by providing its members with a comprehensive and coordinated array of resources, support and programs to help practitioners improve their skills to further the health and well-being of the American public. For more information, visit www.aahperd.org.