Minister responsible for sport, Hon. Carolyn Bertram is inviting Islanders to join her in sending best wishes to Island goalball athletes Contessa Scott and Amy Kneebone as they compete in the 13th Paralympic Summer Games in Beijing, China, September 6-17, 2008.
This is the third trip to the Paralympic Games as a member of Team Canada for Contessa Scott of Clyde River. She earned gold medals in Sydney, Australia (2000) and Athens, Greece (2004). In 2004, Contessa was honoured with the Lt. Governor's Award, and she was named both Outstanding Athlete of the Year and Senior Female Athlete of the Year by Sport PEI .
Amy Kneebone of Charlottetown is making her first appearance with Team Canada at the Paralympics. She has been competing in Goalball for five years and was a member of the first place Canadian team at the 2006 World Championship. This past July, Amy scored two game-winning goals in round robin play over Japan and Denmark in the Lakeshore Foundation International Goalball Classic in Birmingham, Alabama.
“Amy and Contessa are exceptional athletes and wonderful role models for young Islanders throughout our province,” said Minister Bertram. “I wish them continued success at the Paralympic Games in Beijing as they reach for gold and live out their lifelong dreams.”
The Department of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour has set up a website, www.gov.pe.ca/olympics, where Islanders can go online and post messages of encouragement to Amy and Contessa.
The Minister added, “I encourage Islanders to log onto our new website and let Contessa and Amy know that we are cheering for them!”
Contessa Scott and Amy Kneebone are two of about 150 Team Canada athletes, who will be joined by 130 team officials (coaches, team leaders and mission staff), to make up one of Canada’s largest Paralympic teams.
BACKGROUNDER:
Goalball is a fast-paced sport played by athletes who have a visual impairment or who are blind. Played three on three, on a volley-ball size court, players track the ball by sound as they defend blistering shots upwards of 80 kilometers per hour.
The Paralympic Games recognize sporting achievement and skill for athletes with disabilities including amputees and people who are visually impaired, athletes with cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, and others.