PARK CITY, UT (February 22, 2018) – The National Ability Center, in cooperation with the U.S. Embassy in Seoul and Phoenix Resorts, will conduct a week-long adaptive ski and snowboard training for coaches and youth with disabilities in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The project, “Adaptive Sports for Social Change” (ASSC), is funded through the Sports Diplomacy Division of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
A U.S.-based Training Team will travel to South Korea to conduct the training program for coaches and youth with disabilities from March 3 – 9, 2018 in the sports of alpine skiing and snowboarding. Korean ski instructors/coaches will receive four days of training in the various techniques of adaptive skiing and snowboarding. Following the training approximately 40 Korean youth with disabilities will receive three days of ski/snowboard lessons from the newly trained Korean instructor with the assistance of the U.S. Training Team. The training is free of charge for all participants.
In addition, a group of 12 U.S. youth with disabilities that are skilled skiers and snowboarders, and four chaperones will travel to Pyeongchang to join the Korean youth group to serve as role models and peer partners. Following the trainings the U.S. and Korean groups will attend the Opening Ceremonies of the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games.
The impact of Project ASSC will lead to a change in attitude toward individuals with disabilities in South Korea, expanding community awareness of the potential of persons with disabilities that will enable them to become fully active in community life.
ABOUT the National Ability Center – The National Ability Center provides world-class adaptive recreation and outdoor adventures for individuals and families of differing abilities, physical, cognitive and developmental, including competitive athletes, youth, veterans and more. Rooted in Park City, UT for over 30 years, with additional facilities in Salt Lake City and Moab, the National Ability Center empowers participants by building self-esteem, confidence and lifetime skills through inclusive programming and activities such as alpine and nordic skiing, snowboarding, horseback riding, cycling, swimming, rafting, archery, among others. The National Ability Center is globally recognized as a chapter of Disabled Sports USA and is one of only 12 Gold U.S. Paralympic Sports Clubs. For more information, visit www.discovernac.org .
ABOUT the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ Sports Diplomacy Division – The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State fosters mutual
understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries to promote friendly and peaceful relations. This mission is accomplished through academic, cultural, sports, and professional exchanges that engage youth, students, educators, artists, athletes, and rising leaders in the United States and more than 160 countries. The Sports Diplomacy division (formerly SportsUnited) uses the international language of sports as a tool to promote tolerance, understanding and the peaceful resolution/prevention of conflict; to increase awareness among young people of the importance of following a healthy lifestyle and physical fitness in order to prevent illness, substance abuse, and negative behaviors; and to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities by providing inclusive sports opportunities that contribute to the physical and psychological health of people at all ages who experience disabilities.
