SPORTS ROUNDUP: Motorability Brings Car Culture to United Spinal

Compiled by Tom Scott

United Spinal Association has received a generous donation from Pontiac and General Motors Corporation of Motorati Island in the Second Life (SL), a Web-based virtual reality community. You can learn more about the newly-named Motorability Island at www.unitedspinal.org/motorability/.

Motorability Island in SL is a vast, complex with seven separate simulated environments (or sims), designed specifically to promote United Spinal Association in SL via the Education Center and other builds dotted around the Island. Visitors to the Island will find two full oval circuits, a full inter-sim road system, car-themed nightclub with live DJs, go-kart racing, car dealerships, scooter shack and the rather cool AskPatty.com center too, which offers automotive advice for women from some of the top women in the US automotive industry.

“Through this gift our members and the general public will be able to enjoy a variety of car culture-related virtual events and pure racing fun,” said Paul Tobin, President and CEO of United Spinal Association. “Other planned activities on Motorability Island will help us to raise awareness and funds that support United Spinal programs in the real world.”

United Spinal Association Board member Jody DeVere is responsible for the Motorati contribution. DeVere is President of AskPatty.com- Automotive Advice for Women-and she serves as Chair of United Spinal’s Motorsports Committee, which provides opportunities for drivers with disabilities who use hand controls to participate in solo racing events around the country.

During 2007, DeVere was the moving force for several successful fundraising events for United Spinal Association on Pontiac’s Motorati Island and at real life auto races. DeVere plans to ramp up Motorability Island activities quickly in 2008.

For more information about United Spinal Association’s Motorsports Program, please take the off ramp to www.unitedspinal.org/motorability/united-spinal-motorsports/

2007 US Paralympic Table Tennis Championships

Hoping to earn a spot at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing, 123 athletes from 28 different countries competed in the 2007 US Paralympics Table Tennis Championships, held at Chicago’s McCormick Place. It was the third consecutive year for the event, which this year held the distinction as the last opportunity to earn world ranking points to qualify for the upcoming Summer Paralympic Games.

Running from December 28-30, the 2007 US Paralympics Table Tennis Championships, were a part of the more than 40 different sports and activities that made up Mayor Daley’s Holiday Sports Festival, including the Killerspin Holiday Open and SPINvitational. Killerspin was gracious enough to provide all of the tables, floormats, and equipment used in the event.

An estimated 85,000 people came out to McCormick Place for the festival, and Paralympic table tennis was an important new addition, fitting with the festival’s focus on the “Olympic and Paralympic experience.” Mayor Richard M. Daley highlighted this in his press conference on the second day of the event: “The new edition will help children become better acquainted with amateur sports, and many of them will become participants. Even if they don’t become world class athletes, they will develop new interests that will last them a lifetime.” As the US-nominated bid city, Chicago is hoping to boost its chances of hosting the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

A diverse group of standing and wheelchair players hailing from nearly every continent gathered in the Windy City. Outside it was cold, even when the wind wasn’t blowing, but luckily, table tennis is an indoor sport.

“We just love coming here [to the US] for this tournament,” said Nadia Moffatt who left summer behind in Australia to compete in the event. Fortunately, an indoor pedestrian walkway connected the venue with the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place which handled many of the athletes’ meals and meeting spaces in addition to lodging. “Unlike many convention centers, there are no carpets to push on from the Hyatt to McCormick,” observed Jennifer Johnson, of the Organizing Committee for the event (and also a participant in the wheelchair competition). “It’s great for the wheelchairs. I’m cruising … and loving it.”

Johnson was joined by Linda Mastandrea, Vice President of Sports for the Chicago 2016 Bid Committee to kick-off the event. The pair of Paralympic Gold Medalists played a ceremonial first ball to an open an exciting three days of competition, starting with Open Singles on Day 1, followed by the Class Singles events and Team events on Days 2 and 3. The large Korean delegation dominated many of the wheelchair events, especially in the team competition. USA’s Tahl Leibovitz won the Open Standing event and finished second in the class singles and team event, while Norman Bass managed to snag a bronze medal in the Class 7 Singles event. On the women’s side Noga Nir-Kistler and Pamela Fontaine won bronze in the Class 4-5 team event. Leibovitz and Nir-Kistler’s performances during the competition were both strong enough for each to qualify for the 2008 Paralympics.

Tom Scott is staff editor.