Jewish Hospital’s Frazier Rehab Institute Sponsors
Rugby Tournament for the Physically Disabled

April 22 – 24, 2005

Who: United States Quad Rugby Association Top 8 – Division I and Division II Teams (16 teams total)

What: 2005 United States Quad Rugby National Tournament

When: Friday, April 22 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Games
Friday, April 22 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. Awards Social
Friday, April 22 8-10 p.m. ‘Murderball’ film private screening
Saturday, April 23 9 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Games
Sunday, April 24 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Games

Where: Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center- Broadbent Arena

LOUISVILLE, KY: Jewish Hospital Frazier Rehab Institute is pleased to present, as host and organizer for the second year in a row, the United States Quad Rugby Association (USQRA) 2005 National Tournament. After successfully hosting two smaller Quad Rugby tournaments in 2003 and the national tournament in 2004, Frazier Rehab’s organizational efforts were acknowledged by the USQRA Executive Board, giving Frazier the opportunity to host the national tournament in Louisville, KY.

The national tournaments are a two-tier tournament, with the top two teams from each of the four sections of the United States competing in Division I, and the third and fourth place finishers competing in Division II. Teams from around the United States who have been confirmed to play in the National Tournament at this time include:

Division I
Texas Stampede (Texas)
Denver Harlequins (Colorado)
Hoveround Lightning (Florida)
Phoenix Heat (Arizona)
San Diego Bushwackers (California)
Portland Pounders (Oregon)

Division II
U of A Wildchairs (Arizona)
Pasadena Texans (Texas)
Magee Eagles (Pennsylvania)
Tampa Generals (Florida)
California Quake (California)
Sharp Edge (California

The 2005 USQRA National Tournament will also play host to an exclusive screening of the recently released documentary film ‘Murderball’. This film was presented at the Sundance Film Festival and won the prestigious and coveted American Documentary Audience Award as well as the Special Jury Prize for Editing Award. The film portrays the story of “overcoming injuries and despair and learning through rehabilitation and training not only to function in the everyday world but to become Olympians” according to a review by Roger Ebert. “We are honored to Host the National Championship Tournament for a second year in a row”, said Jean Russell, Vice President of Operations at Frazier Rehab Institute. “It is even more of an honor to be asked by THINKFilm to show the ‘Murderball’ film to the athletes and staff attending the tournament this year.” As part of the Friday evening festivities, THINKFilm has generously allowed the Tournament organizing committee to provide a private screening of the hit documentary, Murderball. The film will be shown at 8:00 p.m. in the Mary Banquet Room at the Executive West Hotel. The film ‘Murderball’ has not been released to the general public yet so the screening will only be open to the athletes and volunteers in attendance at the tournament as well as interested media representatives.

Quad Rugby, or Wheelchair Rugby, is a combined sport of wheelchair basketball and ice hockey, played with a regulation sized volleyball. Players must have a combination of upper and lower extremity impairment to be considered eligible to play. Most of the players have sustained cervical-level spinal injuries and have some type of physical disability as a result. Four players from each team are allowed on the court at a time. The sport is played on a regulation-sized basketball court.

Other sponsors for the tournament include United States Rugby Association (USQRA), Paralyzed Veteran’s of America (PVA), Frazier Rehab Institute, Coloplast, Vesco Metal Craft Chairs, Spinergy Wheels, Eagle Sports Chairs, United Spinal Association, Astra Tech, Wheelchair Getaways, Classic Spot companies, Inc., Jewish Hospital HealthCare Services, Louisville Metro-Adapted Leisure Activities, Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital, Kentucky Wheelchair Athletics Association, Spina Bifida Association of Kentucky, Friends for Michael, Greater Louisville Sports Commission and the Spinal Cord Injury Association of Kentucky. For more information, please call Julie Ice at (502) 587-4230, or view the attached tournament schedules.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2005

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Julie Ice, PR Manager or
Linda McGinity Jackson,
Vice President of Public Relations,
(502) 587-4230