Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Wednesday, January 27,1999

Release #033-99

Contact: Colleen Roche/Curt Ritter (212)788-2958


MAYOR GIULIANI ANNOUNCES 1999 INVACARE WORLD TEAM CUP COMPETITION WILL BE HELD AT THE UNITED STATES TENNIS ASSOCIATION NATIONAL TENNIS CENTER

International Elite Wheelchair Athletes Compete In New York City For The First Time

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today announced that the INVACARE World Team Cup, an International team competition for elite wheelchair tennis athletes, will be held at the United States Tennis Association (USTA) National Tennis Center in New York City from July 26th through August 1st.

"New York City is proud to be hosting the 1999 INVACARE World Team Cup Competition," said Mayor Giuliani. "The talented athletes who participate in this event are magnificent role models for the more than 50 million people with disabilities in the United States. The City of New York is honored to host this year's championship."

More than 250 world class athletes from 32 nations will participate in the weeklong competition, which will be held in New York City for the first time in the 15-year history of the event, at the USTA National Tennis Center. There will be 32 men's teams, 15 women's teams and eight quad teams. The INVACARE World Team Cup is an international single-elimination competition. The defending championship teams-the men's team from Germany; the women's team from the Netherlands; and the quad teams from the United States, will defend their titles.

Queens Borough President Claire Shulman said, "This marks another exciting first for the Borough of Queens. I am delighted to join with Mayor Giuliani in welcoming these world class athletes and hope that this is the first of many future visits by the INVACARE World Team Cup."

The INVACARE World Team Cup originated in 1985 when the first World Team Cup was held in Irvine, California with male players from Australia, Canada. France, Israel, Japan and the United States participating. The following year women participated in the event, with teams from the United States and a combined Dutch/French team competing.

Eastern Wheelchair Tennis Association President George McFadden said, "It is a tribute to the growth of our sport, the fastest growing wheelchair sport in the world, that we are able to play on the same courts where the world's greatest professional tennis players compete in the U.S. Open. No doubt, there will be special excitement by playing in the greatest international city in the world."

New York City Sports Commissioner Kenneth J. Podziba said, "This event sends a message of hope and optimism that athletic goals and aspirations are not limited by one's physical constraints or disabilities."

Queens Borough President Claire Shulman; New York City Sports Commissioner Kenneth J. Podziba; Eastern Wheelchair Tennis Association President George McFadden; USTA Executive Director Rick Ferman; and Stephen Welch, the Number One ranked Men's U.S. Open wheelchair tennis athlete, joined the Mayor for today's announcement.

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