Charlie Huebner to be USOC Director of Paralympic Sport Management

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) has selected Charlie Huebner to head its new United States Paralympic Corporation (USPC) as Director of Paralympic Sport Management. To be based in Colorado Springs, the USPC will bring together the different disability sport groups in the US under one national governing body. The USPC will officially start operations on 16 April 2001, and Huebner is already laying the groundwork for this new organization.

"This is a great opportunity to positively impact disabled sports in the US," said Huebner. "Our immediate goals are to utilize the Olympic platform to develop a disabled sports strategic plan, increase direct athlete funding, enhance relationships with national governing bodies and become a financially self-sufficient organization."

Before heading the newly-founded USPC, Huebner served as Executive Director of the United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA), leading the organization since 1993. At the USABA, he managed daily operations, focusing on fund development, governance, board development, sports program management and corporate image. Prior to that, Huebner served for three years in public service as Director of Communications for Arizona Governor Rose Mofford. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Resource Exchange, a regional program that provides services to individuals with developmental disabilities. He also volunteers actively and was one of 41 Americans named in 1996 as a Jefferson Award winner for community service.

ISAPA Congress to Focus on Themes of Diversity and Inclusion

Integration, movement and development—these perspectives will be discussed at the 13th International Symposium Adapted Physical Activity (ISAPA), "Towards a Society for All—through Adapted Physical Activity", to be held from 3 to 7 July 2001 at the Messe Congress Center (MCC) in Vienna, Austria.

Across a series of keynote lectures, oral and poster presentations, and workshops, the symposium will bring together experts from various disciplines with common interests in movement, physical activity, health, sport and environmental aspects for the benefit of individuals with disabilities. The symposium will be conducted in English and German, and has been divided into seven sections:

• Physical activity from childhood to old age
• Physical education from kindergarten to university
• Physical activity as prevention, therapy and rehabilitation
• Competitive sport
• Wellness, fitness and health
• Technology and equipment
• Creative movement with respect to art and culture.

The symposium is organized every two years by the International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (IFAPA), a cross disciplinary professional organization of individuals, institutions and agencies supporting and promoting adapted physical activity, disability sport, and all aspects of sport, movement, and exercise science for individuals with disabilities. Founded in 1973 in Quebec, Canada, IFAPA coordinates national, regional and international functions that pertain to sport, dance, aquatics, exercise, fitness, and wellness for individuals of all ages with disabilities or special needs.

For more information on the symposium, please contact
Austropa Interconvention, Waehringerstrasse 6-8, A-1090 Vienna, Austria, Tel: +43 1 316 8026, Fax: +43 1 315 5650, E-mail: austropa.congress@verkehrsbuero.at, or visit the symposium website http://www.univie.ac.at/sportwissen-schaften/isapa2001.