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World Class Athlete ·
Motivational Speaker · I/T Specialist
Matt
King is an IBM engineer and University of Notre Dame graduate. Matt, who
happens to be blind, is also one of the best tandem cyclists in the
world.
Matt
made his debut on the international cycling scene at the 1996 Atlanta
Paralympic Games by setting a world record in the 4,000 meter pursuit.
In 1998, at the International Paralympic Committee's World Cycling
Championships, he finished with a silver medal in the men's match
sprints. Domestically, he is not only a twelve time national champion in
the field of American blind cyclists, Matt has also placed top three
amongst America's best elite/professional (and sighted) track cyclists.
Matt
believes his race results will help the world learn that disabilities do
not have to disable, obstacles are opportunities, limitations are not
necessarily limiting.
In
addition to training, racing and his work at IBM, Matt takes his
positive message to students, service organizations, corporations, the
media, and other audiences across the country. Every year thousands of
people experience Matt teach, inspire, and motivate. He enjoys the
opportunity to share his message and make a difference in the lives of
others.
Matt
not only makes a difference as a teacher and motivator but as an
advocate for people with disabilities. Through his work at IBM, as an
engineer and expert in the field of accessibility to computers, he is
working to improve the lives of people with disabilities by giving them
greater access to the world of information technology.
Matt
has been featured in the New York Times, Olympian Magazine, WE Magazine,
and many other publications. The reason, Matt has a compelling mission
and a triumphant and exciting story.
| Visa
and Outdoor Life Network Step Up to Make Coverage of 2004
Paralympic Games Possible |
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ATHENS,
Greece (September 19, 2004) – In an unprecedented agreement with
U.S. Paralympics, Visa USA has committed to be the sole and
exclusive U.S. television sponsor of the 2004 Athens Paralympic
Games, which will appear on Outdoor Life Network (OLN). A two-hour
program will recap the 11 days of competition taking place in
Athens, Greece through September 28th and will be
brought to the viewing public with limited commercial
interruptions on Saturday, November 13, 5-7 p.m. Eastern Time.
"Visa
is proud to make possible the telecast of the 2004 Athens
Paralympic Games here in the United States this November and
ensure Americans have an opportunity to see and celebrate the
efforts and accomplishments of our Paralympic athletes," said
Michael Lynch, senior vice president, Visa USA. "When we were
given the chance to make this broadcast possible we felt it was a
tremendous way to reinforce our commitment to America's finest
athletes, something we are proud to have partnered with through
the 2012 Paralympic Games."
Two-time
Paralympian and wheelchair track athlete, Cheri Blauwet
(Larchwood, Iowa), says, “The athletes are thrilled that the
Games will air in the U.S. For all of us, they are the most
important competition and the fact that friends, family and fans
of U.S. Paralympics will now be able to watch is absolutely
wonderful.”
Prior
to Visa and OLN stepping up to the plate, no network had committed
to televising the 2004 Paralympic Games. Outdoor Life Network,
home of best-in-class events like the Tour de France, felt that
the Games was a story that needed to be told.
"When
we began talking to the USOC about the Paralympics on OLN, it was
an easy decision," said Gavin Harvey, President of OLN.
"While the event falls a bit outside of our
traditional programming, Paralympians are inspirational athletes
with amazing stories. We
felt very strongly that the event, and these athletes, needed to
be seen in the U.S."
"The
United States Olympic Committee is proud to partner with Visa and
The Outdoor Life Network to make coverage of the 2004 Paralympic
Games available to viewers in America,” said Jim Scherr, USOC
Chief of Sport Performance. “Thanks to the support of these
outstanding companies, viewers will have the opportunity to
witness the inspiring accomplishments of our Paralympians as they
strive to reach new levels of athletic and personal excellence at
the Paralympic Games in Athens.”
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| ·Visa
and Outdoor Life Network Step Up to Make TV Coverage of 2004
Paralympic Games Possible ATHENS,
Greece (September 19, 2004) – In an unprecedented agreement with
U.S. Paralympics, Visa USA has committed to be the sole and
exclusive U.S. television sponsor of the 2004 Athens Paralympic
Games, which will appear on Outdoor Life Network (OLN). A two-hour
program will recap the 11 days of competition taking place in
Athens, Greece through September 28th and will be
brought to the viewing public with limited commercial
interruptions on Saturday, November 13, 5-7 p.m. Eastern Time.
(Please read full article on the left side of page) |
2004
Athens Paralympic Games -
Facts & Figures
-
Almost
50 Broadcasters were present in Athens (new
record).
-
The
total number of tickets sold was almost 800,000.
- More
than 3,200 Media representatives were
accredited.
- A
record of 136 nations (new record, breaking
Sydney's of 123) participated in Athens Games.
- The
total number of athletes in the Paralympic Games was 3,969
(2,763 men and 1,206
women), which is also a new record, compared to the 3,843
who had competed in Sydney.
- The
Greek athletes were 135.
- 680
torchbearers carried the Paralympic Flame in a 410-kilometre
journey through 54 municipalities of
Attica.
- China
won 141 medals (63 gold, 46
silver, 32 bronze), topping the final medal
standings, which featured a total of 75 nations.
- Greece
won 20 medals (3 gold, 13
silver, 4 bronze), 9 more
than in the Sydney Paralympic Games.
- The
top multi-medallist in the Athens Paralympic Games was swimmer
Mayumi NARITA (JPN), with 7 gold and one
bronze medals.
- 304
World Records and 448 Paralympic Records
were broken in Athens.
- More
than 600 doping tests have been conducted
in the Athens Paralympic Games--seven of
them positive.
19
Paralympic sports were held in the Athens Paralympic Games, at 20
Paralympic Venues. |
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Send
e-mail to Matt and Eric athens2004@thekinglink.com
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Journal - Read all about Eric, Matt and their teammates trip
to Athens, Greece! |
| ·Paralympic
Opening Ceremonies sold out! Check out www.athens2004.com
(official website) or www.usocpressbox.org
to read about the Paralympic Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies!
Over 70,000 attended - sold out! The day pass tickets for the entire
Paralympics also sold out! |
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Thought we
would share some of the nice notes we have received from all
over the world. Thank you for the support and encouraging words. If we know one thing...we couldn't have
made this Paralympic dream come true without you. Thank you!
September 18, 2004
Hello Matt, Eric, Kim and the
rest of the King family,
Just
a quick note to wish Matt and Eric the very best
of
luck as they go for GOLD IN ATHENS!!! We were
watching
the opening ceremonies here in Sydney this
evening
(Saturday, 18 Sept.), and to our surprize and
enjoyment
as the USA team was entering the stadium,
the
camera panned onto a shot of Matt. We gave out
a
huge cheer upon seeing him. All
the best and we will be watching the games in hopes of
seeing Matt and Eric take out the GOLD in each of their
events.
With
love and warmest wishes, Brenda
and Chris Richards
Sydney,
Australia
September 17,
2004,
I just want to say how
positive I felt after running into you on the intranet. I was
feeling negative about so many things in my life - when I see
your website and read about you I feel challenged to make the
best of my life.God bless you - wish you and Eric good luck in
Athens! Sethu from the USA
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