Samsung-Sponsored Program Allows Youths to Experience Olympic Winter Games
Firsthand
SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 40 Olympic hopefuls
participating in the Community Olympic Development Program (CODP) -- a project
of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) -- are playing a special role at
the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Winter Games by serving
as forerunners, testing the ice and snow at Olympic venues just prior to
competition.
These select athletes participating in the CODP, a program sponsored by
Samsung, competed against other elite athletes in junior national competitions
to earn positions as Olympic and Paralympic Forerunners. The forerunners will
test the tracks and courses to ensure optimum race conditions for sports
including Nordic combined and ski jumping, bobsled, luge, skeleton, speed
skating, cross-country skiing and the biathlon. Forerunners also will help
officials test the accuracy of timing systems.
The CODP operates as a bridge between introductory sports programs and
elite national team programs by providing gifted athletes with a clear pathway
of development in Olympic sports.
Launched in 1996, the CODP operates in four U.S. cities -- Salt Lake City,
Minneapolis, Atlanta and San Antonio -- and has plans to expand to other
markets. Most of the CODP athletes serving as forerunners at the 2002 Games
and Paralympics are from the Salt Lake City area and from the Minneapolis CODP
program.
As the first corporate sponsor of the CODP, Samsung provides young
athletes with the equipment, facilities and coaches necessary to develop their
skills as Olympic hopefuls. The CODP has several alums participating in the
Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games including women's ice hockey star Krissy
Wendell. "Samsung is proud to support the CODP and to help these kids be a
part of the Olympic experience," said Pete Skarzynski, senior vice president
of wireless terminals for Samsung Telecommunications America.
Samsung is a proud Worldwide Partner of the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter
Games and the official Wireless Telecommunications Equipment Partner to the
2002 Games. Samsung is also the presenting sponsor of the Samsung Athlete
Family Homestay Program.
About Samsung
Samsung Telecommunications America, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung
Electronics Co. Ltd., researches, markets and develops wireless handsets and
telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information,
see STA's Web site at http://samsungusa.com/cgi-
bin/nabc/prod/hhcommerce/telecommunications/prod_tel_subcategory_1.jsp .
SOURCE Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
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CONTACT:
Sergio Rogina, +1-214-498-4911, or Michelle
Webb, +1-972-628-7807, both of Publicis, for Samsung Electronics
Co. Ltd.
NOTE TO EDITORS: For a list of forerunners' names and to arrange
interviews, please call contacts.
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