Bell Atlantic Junior Luge Series Rolls Into Portland, Aug. 28-29

Bell Atlantic Junior Luge Series Rolls
Into Portland, Aug. 28-29

Call 1-800-USA Luge to Reserve A Spot

August 11, 1999

PORTLAND --The Bell Atlantic Junior Luge Series rolls into Portland,
Maine, Aug. 21-22, affording youngsters with Olympic aspirations an
opportunity to experience the thrill of the sport and to train with coaches
and members of the United States Luge Team.

During a series of three-hour clinics slated for 9 a.m. to noon and 2 to 5
p.m. each day along Spring Street (adjacent to the Civic Center, between
High Street and Oak Street), boys and girls, ages 10-14, will learn the
fundamentals of luge racing at slow speeds as they roll down a paved
roadway atop sleds on wheels. The $15 entry fee includes a souvenir tee
shirt.

USA Luge officials view the Bell Atlantic Junior Luge Series as the
primary means of recruitment for a national program whose athletes
captured silver and bronze medals during last year's Olympic Winter
Games in Nagano, Japan.

The United States Luge Association's traveling luge ramp will be used
during the clinics. Youngsters will learn about properly positioning
themselves on the sled, accurate steering, slowing the sled and bringing it
to a stop. The sessions also include a fun race and moderate physical
testing to gauge the youngsters' athletic ability.

The best athletes discovered at these and other clinics taking place this
summer throughout Bell Atlantic's Northeast and mid-Atlantic region will
be invited to train on ice next winter. They also will be considered for the
2000-2001 United States Luge Association's Junior Development Team.

Olympic Bronze Medalist Brian Martin is a graduate of the 1987 Junior
Luge Series. Nearly all members of the current Junior National Team
were discovered through this program and have progressed to the level of
international luge racing.

Anyone interested in attending a clinic in Portland is invited to call 1-800-USA LUGE.

For more information, visit www.usaluge.org or www.bellatlantic.com/usaluge on
the Internet.

In the spirit of the Olympic movement, the United States Luge Association
seeks to provide for the achievement of excellence in the sport of luge,
with the highest degree of sportsmanship and victory as the standards.
The United States Luge Association endeavors to recruit, develop, train
and support dedicated athletes so they may represent themselves and the
United States of America, with honor, in all luge competitions.

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and
information industry. With more than 43 million telephone access lines
and nearly 10 million wireless customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic
companies are premier providers of advanced wireline voice and data
services, market leaders in wireless services and the world's largest
publishers of directory information. Bell Atlantic companies are also
among the world's largest investors in high-growth global communications
markets, with operations and investments in 23 countries.