Every four years the best wheelchair and standing disabled players gather to participate in the World Championships.  The United States of America has a rich tradition of outstanding performances in this international event. 

This year the competition will be hosted by the Chinese Taipei Paralympic Committee and held in Taipei, Taiwan from August 13th to the 23rd.

The US Team fund drive is a concerted effort of USATT and the 2002 US Paralympic World Team to raise awareness and additional funds to help offset the transportation costs of the team. 

Two members of the team (Andre Scott and Jennifer Johnson) have qualified based on their world rankings to receive full travel support from US Paralympics while the remaining seven players are required to individually come up with $1300 to cover their travel expenses while they represent the US.

US Paralympics (a division of the US Olympic Committee) is gratuitously covering the cost of the coaches, team leader, trainer and entry fee for the team.  

To make a difference.  America doesn't send its athletes to the Olympics and Paralympic Games, Americans do.  The US is one of the few countries in the world that doesn't receive direct government support for its National team.  It is up to all of us to show we care how our team does while they represent us.

To help get us ready for Athens in 2004.  The Paralympics just like the Olympics uses World Rankings to help select players into the tournament.  The World Championships is the most important event in 2002 to gain valuable World Ranking Points for our players.  The more players we qualify based on ranking the more spots we can earn through the regional qualifiers (Pan Am Championships).

To help us beat the best.  Each member of the 2002 US World Paralympic Team has made a full commitment and has been training hard for the World Championships.  They have taken off time from their work and family to become fully prepared.  Your tax deductible contribution will allow our players to focus their final months of training on their opponents and not on how they are going to find the resources to make this trip possible.   

Did you know?  More than 54 million Americans have a physical disability.  More than 143 million Americans are family members of a person with a disability. More than 66% of Americans are disabled for more than six months in their lifetime. One-out-of-four children with physical disabilities do not participate in elementary or secondary physical education programs today. 70% of the disabled population is unemployed.

Your tax-deductible donation of any amount will be greatly appreciated. USATT Treasurer, Tong Lee, will be collecting the contributions for this endeavor. There are two payment options available:

(1) Via check, payable to USA Table Tennis and mail to:

Amerex Instruments, Inc.
c/o Tong Lee
PO Box 787
Lafayette, CA 94549-0787

(2) Via PayPal:  

NOTE: For either form of payment, it is important that you indicate that the donation is for "The 2002 US World Paralympic Team Fund."

James Williams - USA
2001 Pan Am Class 3 Gold Medalist

Total to Date: $1092 (August 6, 2002)