Mayor Michael Bloomberg and New York City Sports Commissioner Kenneth J. Podziba today announced the publication of the second edition of Exercise Your Ability: The Ultimate Guide to Sports and Recreation for People with Disabilities. This valuable resource for athletic and recreational opportunities provides an expansive list of adaptive sports for athletes with disabilities.

"I am honored to be able to present New York City’s second edition of the adaptive sports publication, Exercise Your Ability: The Ultimate Guide to Sports and Recreation for People with Disabilities," said Mayor Bloomberg. "The information contained in this directory gives readers the opportunity to explore many of the engaging adaptive sports programs available throughout the United States. This book continues our mission at the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities and the New York City Sports Commission to encourage the highest levels of participation through sports for persons with disabilities."

"Exercise Your Ability provides valuable information on the myriad of adaptive sports and recreation programs in New York City and the country," said Commissioner Podziba. "This book showcases many exciting recreational and therapeutic programs that are available, and it is our hope that this book encourages our disabled community to lead a healthier, more active lifestyle."

Exercise Your Ability contains well-researched information on over 150 organizations that assist people with disabilities to experience the joy of sports participation. The goal of this book is to encourage New Yorkers and the more than 50 million people with disabilities in the United States to join in the challenging and rewarding world of sports.

"Exercise Your Ability, with the information it provides, has the chance to be instrumental in helping athletes of all ages and with all types of disabilities become involved in sports," said Matthew Sapolin, Executive Director of the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities.

"It is my hope that every person can discover the rewards of exercise. No matter the activity, a life-altering challenge awaits you," said Marla Runyan, the first-ever Paralympian to compete in the Olympic Games. "With creativity and determination, the possibilities are endless. It is with great honor that I take part in this publication--a valued resource that might lead the way to self-discovery. And, I would like to send a personal "thank you" to the New York City Sports Commission for its creation." Ms. Runyan, who is legally blind after being diagnosed with Stargardt's Disease as a child, wrote one of the book's forewords.

"I firmly believe there is something inside of us that can only be described as a light--a light that feeds on adversity. This light uses hardship as fuel: the greater the challenge, the brighter that light burns. This light has the ability to make us more focused, more creative, more driven and, from time to time, can even transcend the limits of our bodies and give us power," said Erik Weihenmayer, Emmy-winner, climber, author, and the first blind person to reach the summit of Mount Everest. "Thanks to the New York City Sports Commission for providing us this guide which, when used in combination with this inner light, will help us to achieve some great things in our lives." Mr. Weihenmayer also contributed a foreword to this book.

To receive a copy of Exercise Your Ability, please call the New York City Sports Commission at 212-487-7120.

The New York City Sports Commission ensures the continuation and growth of a healthy environment for professional, amateur and scholastic sports activities in New York City. In recent years, the Sports Commission has played a role in attracting or creating many new sporting events, including the NFL Kickoff Live from Times Square, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series™ Champions Week, the BMC Software NYC Cycling Championship, the AVP Brooklyn Open, the NAUTICA NYC Triathlon, the NYC Half-Marathon, Let Freedom Run and The Wild Onion Urban Adventure Race.