Randy Snow, former BlazeSports Board Member, Elected to

Class of 2012 International Tennis Hall of Fame

Randy Snow is the second of the Class of 2012 Inductees to be announced. The remainder of the Class of 2012 will be announced within the month ahead. The Induction Ceremony will be July 14, 2012 in Newport, R.I. –

NEWPORT, R.I., USA, February 16, 2012  — Wheelchair tennis superstar and three-time Paralympic medalist Randy Snow has been elected for induction to the International Tennis Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2012. Snow is the second wheelchair tennis player in history to be honored with induction to the International Tennis Hall of Fame, joining Brad Parks, the pioneering founder of the sport, who was inducted in 2010. In addition to his successful tennis career, Snow was a competitive basketball player and racer. Off the courts, he was an influential leader in the development of Wheelchair Tennis and a tireless advocate for improving the quality of life for people with disabilities. Snow’s Hall of Fame induction will be a posthumous recognition of his achievements and contributions to the sport. He passed away on November 19, 2009 in El Salvador while volunteering at a wheelchair tennis camp. Randy served on the BlazeSports America Board of Directors for many years.

Click for more on Randy Snow’s Induction

BlazeSports has published the second edition of the Active for Life Guide. This guide offers a wealth of disability sport and physical activity resources to start or sustain a program. Additionally, the website Resources tab will lead you to an extensive array of educational print and video materials.

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BlazeSports Resources

BlazeSports Active for Life Guide

BlazeSports America hosted a group of sport professionals from North Africa and the Middle East who are participants in a US Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program in:

SPORTS AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS

A Regional Project for Near East and North Africa

U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) has been ongoing since 1940, the IVLP has built mutual understanding between the U.S. and other nations through professional visits to the U.S. for current and emerging foreign leaders. These visits support the foreign policy goals of the U.S. government, and mirror the visitors’ professional interests. U.S. embassies select over 4,500 participants from around the globe to take part in these visits to the U.S. Through these encounters, the participants gain a greater understanding of the cultural and political influences in U.S. society by experiencing firsthand America’s culture and people. Our distinguished international professionals represent politics, government, the media, non-governmental organizations, education, public health, the arts, business and trade, international security, and various other fields. Currently, over 320 past and present heads of government and state and many other world leaders in the public and private sectors have participated in the IVLP.

Project Objectives:

The Department of State has outlined the following specific objectives for the project:

•  Review the history of female participation in fitness and sports programs through school and community-based programs and perceptual changes about female athletes since the late 1970s;

•  Discuss laws prohibiting gender discrimination in education programs, and policies which promote healthy lifestyles and sports;

•  Examine studies that illustrate that sports and fitness contribute to physical, mental, and emotional well being; and

•  Explore the diversity of lifelong sports and wellness programs offered by extracurricular programs, recreational facilities, educational institutions, health clubs, and medical facilities.

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

Algeria – Mr. Abdelkrim MEDJHOUM - Program Director, Algerian National Basketball Federation

Bahrain – Mr. Tareq Juma Salem BELAL - Swimming Instructor, St. Christopher’s School

Egypt – Ms. Wesam Mohamed OSMAN - Physical Education Teacher, El Masrya Language School

Iraq – Dr. Wasan Hanoon Ali AL-SAEDI - Professor, College of Physical Education, Baghdad University

Jordan – Mr. Fadi Ibrahim Mohammad ALJAZZAZI - Teacher’s Club Supervisor, Ministry of Education

Jordan – Ms. Nehad Mohammad Tomah MAKHADMEH - Physical Education Teacher, Al Ramtha Educational Directorate

Oman – Ms. Suada Salim AL ISMAILI - Director of Women’s Sports, Ministry of Sports Affairs

View the video highlights of our Haiti Sport for Development project…click on links below:

BlazeSports with SOHAMO in Cite Soleil, Haiti

BlazeSports America’s Workshop for Haitian Sport and Social Welfare Leaders

BlazeSports Using Soccer for Development in Haiti

BlazeSports Brings Cutting Edge Soccer Training to Haiti

A team of BlazeSports America staff is in Haiti conducting training in soccer and wheelchair basketball while also planning our next round of activities for the coming months. Led by BlazeSports’ Director of International Sport Development Stuart Sharp and Haiti Country Director Daniel Pierre-Charles, the team is making inroads into empowering Haitians with disabilities through sport.

On Tuesday, January 24 Stuart Sharp, a world renowned football (soccer) coach, offered a cutting edge coaching session on new “attacking” techniques in football (soccer) at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Civil Action with the Haitian Under 13 Boys national team.  This session also provided an opportunity to recruit potential participants for the Department of State Educational and Cultural Affair SportUnited project which will result in a USA visit for a contingent of Haitian youth and young adults.

BlazeSports Haiti staff also met with the leadership of the Haitian National Paralympic Committee (NPC Haiti) to share BlazeSports’ vision of disability sport in Haiti.

Today (January 25), the BlazeSports team met with USAID officials and also visited our partners in Cite Soleil (SOHAMO and Association for Progressive Persons with Disabilities) where the team delivered  an inclusive wheelchair basketball and soccer session for youth (both male and female).

USAID officials tour the BlazeSports office compound.

Stuart Sharp points out a feature of the compound to the USAID contingent.The team discusses the BlazeSports plan of action with the USAID group.

A discussion and gift presentation with the SOHAMO leadership team.BlazeSports staff presents SOHAMO leadership with basketballs.

Felipe Rodrigues leads the inclusive basketball clinic.

Felipe Rodriques works with participant on shooting skills in the SOHAMO camp.

The basketball clinic was attended by kids of all ages.

The faces of two of the many children living in the Cite Soleil SOHAMO encampment.

The SOHAMO Gran...so glad to see you are still well!

Milan "Evans" Chery, BlazeSports staff member in Haiti, discusses the current and future activities with a group of SOHAMO participants.

On Thursday, BlazeSports staff hosted a workshop with key partners in Haiti such as the Secretary of State for Integration for Persons with Disabilities and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Civic Action. The workshop also included the announcement of the formation and official launch the BlazeSports Sports Academy in Haiti.  There was extensive media coverage for the event from top Haitian news reporters.

The Georgia Blazers traveled to Birmingham, AL for a one-day tournament with neighboring rivals the Lakeshore Foundation. Lakeshore played host to a large three-day Pioneer Classic Tournament, which attracted 15 adult teams from as far away as Texas, Illinois and New York and included the opportunity for four junior division games .

The Blazers’ Varsity team started the action with a solid overall performance. The Varsity had lost to Lakeshore in the November North Carolina tournament during which they were missing senior Martinez Johnson. The Blazers are a different team when they have their veteran center on the floor.  The first half was a back and forth battle with neither side leading by more than four points. Lakeshore led 18-17 at half-time.  The second half was more of the same until the Blazers built a five point lead, 29-24 with 7 minutes to go. Lakeshore decided they weren’t done and stormed back to tie the game at 31 with 4 minutes to play. Defense was stiff on both sides of the ball, but the Blazers edged out a 33-31 lead with 2 minutes to go. With only 55 seconds left to play however, Lakeshore score to tie the game and send it into overtime. There were only 2 points scored in all of overtime and, unfortunately, Lakeshore made the shot and the Blazers lost 35-33 in OT. Despite the loss, the Blazers were happy to have three players in double digit scoring. Senior Christina Young led the way with 11 points, while senior Martinez Johnson and junior Curran Brown each had 10 points. Bryan Powell rounded out the scoring with 2 points.

Senior Christina Young led the Blazers with 11 points in the first game.

The Blazers’ Prep Team followed the Varsity’s first game and played back-to-back games. The Blazers’ younger squad was coming off an impressive 5-0 tournament record in North Carolina.  This was the first match-up against the Lakeshore regional rivals this season. The Junior Blazers, known for their defense, played well and led the first game at the break 10-3. The Blazers played an offensively conservative game, trying to get all eight players on the scoreboard.  The Blazers finished with a 22-9 win, with 7 of 8 players scoring points. KJ Reese, Sameul Armas, Chance Boyd and Josh Joines scored 4 points each, while Collin LaFon, Collin Lancaster and Cameron Elzey each scored2 points.

Samuel Armas attempts a foul shot during the first prep game.

Chance Boyd was one of 4 Blazers who scored 4 points in game 1.

During the second Prep game, the Blazers continued with a strong defensive presence and led Lakeshore at halftime 14-0. The Blazers continued to play an offensively conservative game, once again trying to get all eight players on the scoreboard. For the second time only 7 of the 8 players scored, however, a different player went scoreless, so combining the two games all 8 Blazers scored at least one basket. The final score of the second game was 22-4. The Blazers were led by Josh Joines who scored 6. KJ Reese, and Cameron Elzey scored 4 points, while Sameul Armas, Chance Boyd, Collin Lancaster and Taevan Grant each scored 2 points. The back-to-back wins give the Georgia Blazers Prep Team with a 7-0 record early in the 2012 season.

Cameron Elzey scores four points in game 2.

The 2012 Georgia Blazer Prep Team.

The long day of competition concluded with a rematch of the Varsity teams. Tough defense and sluggish offense was the story of a low scoring game two. The Blazers led at half time 10-9. At the six minute mark of the second half the Blazers had opened a 18-15 lead. The regional rivals battled back and forth for the final six minutes and the Blazers defense would prevail with a 20-15 win.  The Blazers were led by senior Martinez Johnson with 8 points. Christina Young and Brian Powell each had 4 points, while Brent O’Grady and Curran Brown each added 2 points.

Martinez Johnson and Bryan Powell tough defense in game 2.

The 2012 Georgia Blazer Varsity Team.

The Blazers next tournament is the Music City Madness Southern Regional Qualifying Tournament, February 24-25.

The Blazers travel in style on the BlazeBus with equipment trailer.

As noted previously on this site, BlazeSports America is committed to serving Haiti and promoting health, development and empowerment through sport for all Haitians and particularly those with disabilities.

More than 250,000 Haitians lost their lives in the devastating earthquake of January 12, 2010. Countless thousands experienced debilitating injuries that will affect them for the remainder of their life. Millions were left homeless and today, two years later, hundreds of thousands of Haitians are still living in tent communities.

You can help Haiti by making a donation to BlazeSports America to support our programs there. Please consider making a donation! Click Donate-Now to give…any amount helps!