July 2010 Industry News
Tumblers Roll Into Springfield’s Convention Center
SPRINGFIELD, Ill.—The country’s best tumblers completed in June at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in the 2010 United States Tumbling and Trampoline Association Nationals, the first year the association has held a national competition in the city since the mid-1990s.
“Our largest membership bodies are in Illinois and Iowa,” said Natalie Montgomery, meet director and spokesperson. “We have a large core of members in those two states, so we like midwestern locations for the championships.”
Last year’s nationals were held in Amarillo, Texas.
For the event, more than three tractor-trailer loads of equipment, including flooring and trampolines, arrived at the convention center from Ross Athletic Supply Inc. of Arkansas. “[Ross] brought in three of their equipment specialists, so they’re here supervising and making sure everything is set to specifications,” Montgomery said.
The Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau estimated that the event generated an estimated $1 million in economic activity.
USAT Announces New Physically Challenged Division
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—USA Triathlon (USAT) announced the development of a new Physically Challenged Division that highlights a more flexible disability classification policy.
The Physically Challenged Division was developed, in part, out of concerns from visually impaired paratriathletes about potentially being required to wear blackout glasses on the run portion of the USAT-sanctioned events following the implementation of a new competitive rule by the International Triathlon Union (ITU), and in turn USAT, this year.
The creation of the Physically Challenged Division allows USAT-sanctioned race directors to define how disabled categories—including the visually impaired category—can be designed to suit the competitor audience of their specific races, making it possible to have multiple classifications within a disabled category. Visually impaired athletes competing domestically in the Physically Challenged Division will not be required to race with blackout glasses.
The only event in the United States this year where the use of all ITU paratriathlon categories and regulations—including the “blackout glasses” rule—will be mandated was the USA Paratriathlon National Championship, held July 18 in New York City. This event is the lone qualifier for the 2010 ITU Paratriathlon World Championship. Athletes hoping to qualify for Team USA for the 2010 World Championship must adhere to all ITU and USAT competitive rules in New York. There was a non-qualifying Physically Challenged Division at the New York event for athletes who wanted to race without competing under ITU rules.
“The implementation of the Physically Challenged Division will allow for paratriathletes of all levels to compete in, and enjoy, the majority of multisport events,” said Skip Gilbert, USA Triathlon CEO. “The blackout glasses rule only impacts those athletes who want to compete for international titles. All other athletes racing domestically have the ability to compete as they always have without the blackout glasses.
According to the ITUs classification strategy, ITU offers a visually impaired category with a single classification. To ensure that all visually impaired athletes compete on a level playing field, the competition rule requires all athletes to wear blackout glasses on the run portion.
NCYS, Locker 81 Fundraising Solutions Roll Out ‘Smart Giving’ Program
STUART, Fla.—The National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) and Locker 81 Fundraising Solutions released Smart Giving, a program designed to assist youth sports organizations with responsible and respectable fundraising solutions.
Smart Giving helps provide funds for both the grass-tops national organizations and the grass roots local teams and leagues.
Three products that provide organizations with residual income, thus virtually eliminating the need for a new fundraising campaign from year to year, include the Smart Giving Visa Debit Card (prepaid), Smart Giving Visa Gift Card, and Smart Giving Visa Payroll Card.
“The Smart Giving program is a great way for youth sports organizations to responsibly raise money while the teams, leagues, coaches, parents, volunteers, staff members, friends and family use the Visa debit card for their normal day-to-day purchases at retail stores, gasoline, groceries, entertainment, sporting goods equipment, online shopping, etc., as well as for team expenditures, including registrations, insurance, uniforms, equipment and team travel,” said NCYS Executive Director Sally Johnson.
Tim Brown, president of Locker 81 Fundraising Solutions, said, “The Smart Giving card can also be used as a valuable tool to teach youth how to responsibly use plastic currency. By loading their allowance and expenses on a card and monitoring their habits, parents and mentors can teach valuable life lessons before credit cards are used.”
For detailed information on Locker 81 Fundraising Solutions or NCYS, both will be exhibiting at S.P.O.R.T.S. 2010 in Branson, Mo., Aug. 30-Sept. 1. To see if you qualify for a free registration, click HERE.