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WiththeBeijingParalympicsdrawingnear, USParalympicsathletesarelosingnotimetofurtherpolishtheirperformances. InanexclusiveinterviewwithourWashingtoncorrespondentshanshan, theChefdeMissionoftheUSParalympicsdelegation, JeffUnderwoodsaystheUSteamaimsatrecoveringfromthelowpointsinthepreviousParalympicsandreachforthetopofthemedalcountinBeijing. Hereisshanshanwithmore.
ThisyearmarksthelargesteverParalympicsGamesever. InBeijing, atotalof 4,000 athletesfromaround 150 countrieswillbecompetingin 20 sports. TheUSissendingastrongdelegationof 213 athletesforcompetitionin 18 differentsports. JeffUnderwood, ChefdeMissionofthedelegation, outlinesthegoaloftheteam.
"Weexpecttodostronginbasketball, rugbyandtrack. WecertainlyhopetodobetterthanwedidinAthens, wheretheUStotalmedalcountdroppedtothe 5th. Overall, formanyyearsthroughthe 80sand 90swewereleadingthemedalcount. ButwedroppedoffinAthensandSydney. Wereallyhopetoworkourwaybacktothetopofthemedalcount."
UnderwoodsaysitisanincrediblehonorforhimtobenamedChefdeMissionforthe 2008 U.S. ParalympicsTeam. HehasneverbeentoBeijing, andishighlyanticipatingthetrip. That'samajorreasonwhyhefollowedtheOlympiccoveragenightanddayonTV.
"JustfromwhatIseeonTV, Beijingisadynamicplace. Ithinkyoucanattributesomeworldrecordstothefacilitiesthemselves. ObviouslytheorganizersinBeijinghavecreatedanenvironmentthat'sveryconducivetotop-levelathleticperformance. Itappearsthatsupportfromlocalcommunityisverystrong."
JeffUnderwoodsaysfromwhathehasseenandheard, Beijinghasdoneagoodjobinprovidingahigh-qualitylivingandcompetingenvironmentforParalympicsathletes. HebelievesBeijingwillholdawonderfulParalympicGamesasitdidfortheOlympics.
"Ithinkearlyontherewereconcernsaboutaccessibility. ObviouslyfortheParalympicsathletes, particularlythosewhoarewheelchairathletesorvisuallyimpaired. Theyareconcernedabouttheirabilitytogetaround, notatthevenuesandnotatthevillage, butoutinthelocalcommunity. Iknowsomeathleteshavebeentherewithinthelast 6 months, andtheirimpressionshavebeenthatthecityhasdoneagoodjobrelatedtoaccessibility."
UnderwoodsaystheU.S. OlympicCommitteeismakingatremendousinvestmentinbuildingtheParalympicmovementinthecountry. ThatcommitmenthashelpedsignificantlyraisetheawarenessofParalympicprogramssince 2004.
SS, CRInews, Washington.