U.S. SAILORS AT FIRST OLYMPIC TEST
EVENT
ATHENS, GREECE (August 14, 2002) - Making
the transition from a vision to reality, the first official
test event in preparation for the 2004 Olympic Games has begun.
As Olympic host, Greek organizers are committed to holding
a test event in every sport under conditions similar to those
expected during the Games. Not only will sailors from around
the globe be the first to preview the Olympic venues of Athens,
but due to the varied conditions on the field of play they
will be the only athletes to have a second test event - in
August of 2003. With many anxious to test the waters of the
Saronic Gulf, the Aghios Kosmas Sailing Centre expects to
host close to 600 competitors between August 12-25, 2002.
With a temporary venue, intense security and volunteers at
hand, organizers hope to provide an experience similar to
what sailors will encounter two years hence at the Olympics
when nine classes (11 divisions) compete for Olympic glory.
The Games of the XXVIII Olympiad are scheduled for August
13-29, 2004.
A large U.S. contingent -- 43 athletes,
several personal coaches and numerous family members -- has
assembled in Glyfada with a support staff that includes Team
Leader Fred Hagedorn (Chicago, Ill.); Olympic Director Jonathan
R. Harley (Middletown, R.I.); and US Sailing Team coaches
Gary Bodie (Hampton, Va.) and Skip Whyte (Bristol, R.I.).
Due to a direct conflict with the Star World Championships
there will be no competition for the Star class. The U.S.
will have competitors in eight classes (ten
events) as follows:
Europe: Tanya Haddad (Portland, Ore.);
and Lauren Bernsen (Coronado, Calif.).
Finn: Geoff Ewenson (Annapolis, Md./Newport,
R.I); and Mo Hart (S. Portland, Me./Santa Cruz, Calif.).
470 Men: Steve Hunt (Hampton, Va.) with
Michael Miller (Charleston, S.C.); Stu McNay (Chestnut Hill,
Mass.) with Ross Anderson (Preston, Conn.); and Mikee Anderson-Mitterling
with Graham Biehl (both San Diego, Calif.).
470 Women: Courtenay Dey (The Dalles,
Ore./Rye, N.Y.) with Linda Wennerstrom (Miami, Fla.); Katie
McDowell (Barrington, R.I.) with Isabelle Kinsolving (New
York, N.Y.); and Amanda Clark (Shelter Island, N.Y.) with
Sara Mergenthaler (Colts Neck, N.J.).
49er: Andy Mack (Seattle, Wash.) with
Adam Lowry (San Francisco, Calif.); David Fagen (St. Petersburg,
Fla.) with Bora Gulari (Detroit, Mich.); and Dalton Bergan
(Seattle, Wash.) with Zack Maxam (San Diego, Calif.).
Laser: Andrew Campbell (San Diego, Calif.);
Brett Davis (Largo, Fla.); and Andrew Lewis (Honolulu, Hawaii).
Mistral M: Peter Wells (Newport Beach,
Calif.); and Ben Barger (St. Petersburg, Fla.).
Mistral W: Farrah Hall (Annapolis, Md.).
Tornado: Lars Guck (Bristol, R.I.) with
Jonathan Farrar (Miami, Fla.); Robbie Daniel (Clearwater,
Fla.) with Eric Jacobsen (Annapolis, Md.); and Stan Schreyer
(Newport, R.I.) with Forbes Durdin (Houston, Texas).
Yngling: Betsy Alison (Newport, R.I.)
with Lee Icyda (Stuart, Fla.) and Suzy Leech (Avon, Conn./Annapolis,
Md.); Carol Cronin (Jamestown, R.I.) with Linda Epstein (Arlington,
Mass.) and Liz Filter (Stevensville, Md.); and Hannah Swett
(Jamestown, R.I./New York, N.Y.) with Joan Touchette (Newport,
R.I.) and Melissa Purdy (Tiburon, Calif.).
For event information visit: www.athens.olympic.org
