Grant to Support Paralympic Education and Operations

The United States Department of Education has given a US$1.42 million grant to the Utah Sports Authority to support the Salt Lake City 2002 Paralympic Winter Games. The grant will be used for Paralympic education programs in all 42 Utah school districts. Paralympic awareness programs were started by the Salt Lake Organizing Committee's (SLOC) Education Department in 1998. The grant will also be used to support recycling services, waste removal and snow removal crucial to the success of the Paralympic Winter Games.

"The generosity of this grant will ensure that thousands of school children will have the opportunity to be inspired by these elite Paralympic athletes," said Mitt Romney, President and CEO of SLOC. "Monies received from the Utah Sports Authority will also go directly to Paralympic operations. The support we have received from the federal and state governments has been tremendous; we could not have done so much for the community without them."

The Utah Sports Authority will work with SLOC's Education Department to distribute Paralympic tickets to children in all 42 Utah school districts. The State of Utah will contribute US$100,000 in matching funds to help schools cover transport costs to bring students to Paralympic events, including the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.