USA Paralympics

Lawrence, Kansas -  Independence, Inc., based in Lawrence, is working on getting more support for the USA to broadcast the Paralympics.  On Monday, the United States Olympic Committee announced the 2012 U.S. Paralympic Team that will compete in the upcoming London 2012 Paralympic Games, Aug. 29-Sept. 9.   According to TeamUSA.org, the 227-member team, which includes six guides for visually impaired athletes, is comprised of 133 men and 94 women.  The team also includes 20 U.S. military veterans and active duty service members, some of whom were wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. USOC Chief Executive Officer Scott Blackmun said “When the 2012 London Olympic Games come to a close on Sunday, the eyes of the world will turn to the Paralympic Games and the more than 4,000 athletes competing.”  During the eleven days of competition, American athletes will participate in 19 sports including archery, boccia, cycling, equestrian, goalball, judo, powerlifting, rowing, sailing, shooting, sitting volleyball, soccer seven-a-side, swimming, table tennis, track and field, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, wheelchair fencing and wheelchair tennis. At the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, Team USA claimed a total of 99 medals, finishing third overall. Broadcasters that reach an audience of 650 million weekly in 56 countries across Europe and beyond are committed to broadcasting the Paralympics, but so far no American media plan to carry the games.  People wishing to sign a petition seeking television coverage in the U.S. are encouraged to go to

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/10000-to-cover-the-usa-paralympics/