Bell Atlantic Junior Luge Series Rolls Into Washington, Oct. 2-3

Bell Atlantic Junior Luge Series Rolls
Into Washington, Oct. 2-3

Call 1-800-USA Luge to Reserve A Spot

September 16, 1999

WASHINGTON --The Bell Atlantic Junior Luge Series rolls
into Washington, D.C., Oct. 2-3, 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, 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 clinics will be held 9 a.m. to noon and
2 to 5 p.m. each day along 11th Street, N.W. (between Euclid and W
Streets). 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 held this summer
throughout Bell Atlantic's Northeast and mid-Atlantic service area 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 Washington, D.C. 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.

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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
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