The New York City Sports Commission has partnered with Achilles International to offer athletes with disabilities the opportunity to participate in the Mayor's Cup New York City Kayak Championship--a 26.7-mile kayaking race around Manhattan. The Mayor's Cup will take place on October 19, 2008 with kayakers launching from Battery Park City's North Cove Marina. The Challenged Athletes division will launch with the first wave of kayaks at 9:45am.

"The Sports Commission has a longstanding relationship with Achilles, so it was only natural to partner with them to create a Challenged Athletes division for our Mayor's Cup Kayak Championships," said NYC Sports Commissioner Podziba. "Seeing Iraq war veterans competing alongside some of the world's best kayakers will certainly be inspiring for all of the athletes and spectators. I would like to thank our friends at Achilles for helping us expand access to the Mayor's Cup so that athletes of all abilities can participate."

Two of the challenged athletes expected to compete are members of the Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans who were wounded while fighting in Iraq. These soldiers will join additional Achilles athletes to compete alongside top paddlers from around the world. Elite racers expected to race in the 2008 Mayor's Cup include: Hank McGregor, the world's best surfski paddler; Oscar Chalupsky, 11 time world champion surf ski paddler; and 2006 Mayor's Cup Champion Greg Barton, a 2-time Olympic Gold medalist.

"Over 40 years ago, after losing my leg, I took up kayaking and learned to do an Eskimo roll," said Dick Traum, founder of Achilles International. "It was a fantastic way to return to mainstream sports. I am very excited that Achilles will have the opportunity to participate in such a prestigious event through our partnership with the New York City Sports Commission."

Each of the challenged athletes will be paired with an able-bodied kayaker in a tandem kayak. Prize money and awards will be presented to the top three disabled finishers.

"Kayaking has been a venue where participants with disabilities have flourished for many years," said Mayor's Cup Race Director Ray Fusco. "It is an honor to have top-flight disabled athletes come to our race and compete with our international athletes in the same amazing venue."

For more information about the Mayor's Cup New York City Kayak Championships, please visit www.nymayorscup.com.

Achilles International is a not-for-profit organization designated 501(c)3, which provides an opportunity for disabled people to participate in mainstream sports. It provides an opportunity to achieve and build confidence and self-esteem. Dick Traum, Ph.D., who founded Achilles in l983, was the first amputee to run a marathon. Since its inception, Achilles has expanded to over three thousand members in the New York metropolitan area, and has a presence in forty-six U.S. cities and over sixty foreign countries. Achilles runners use crutches, braces, artificial limbs, wheelchairs or run without aids. Some are experienced athletes, while others are exercising for the first time.

The New York City Sports Commission is the mayoral agency charged with attracting, facilitating and promoting professional, amateur and scholastic sports events in New York City. In recent years, the Sports Commission has played a role in creating or developing 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, the Union Square Street Sessions presented by Jeep®, the Wild Onion Urban Adventure Race and the Men's Health Urbanathlon.