billfierstein: GK Elite Sportswear Outfits Special Olympics Team USA Gymnastics ...

GK Elite Sportswear Outfits Special Olympics Team USA Gymnastics Team for Summer World Games in Shanghai, China

Reading, PA (PRWEB) October 5, 2007

- GK/Elite Sportswear, L.P. is proud to have outfitted TEAM USA Gymnastics in competitive leotards and apparel for the 2007 Special Olympics World Games in Shanghai, China. USA Head Coach Renee Manworren, and team of 9 women and 2 men and staff, will compete at the Special Olympics World Games from Oct. 2-11th in GK?s Special Fit leotards.

GK Elite Sportswear has been working with Special Needs athletes, coaches and clubs for over a year and a half to develop a special fit for women?s and men?s competitive apparel and warm-ups.

There was an unquestionable need to develop a special fit for this market. Sallie Weaver, President of Elite Sportswear commented, ?Developing a special fit for athletes with disabilities has long been a dream of mine. It has literally been on my ?wish list? for over 8 years. The special needs gymnastics market is not a very large market, but it?s a market that deserves to have gymnastics apparel that fits. I am extremely proud that we have accomplished our goal of being able to offer a special fit for these athletes. They have enough obstacles to overcome daily, having to get a leotard that fits should not be one of them.?

?Special Olympics coaches from across the country contacted me regarding sports specific apparel as soon as I was named head coach. They wanted me to assure them that our athletes would represent the United States with the dignity and elegance only the highest quality leotard company could promise,? Head Coach Renee Manworren commented. ?Debbie Clay and the staff at GK Elite were incredible. They met every deadline and rushed to get our athletes fit to the perfection gymnastics demands. I asked for glamorous and they delivered.?

This is the first time that the Special Olympic World Summer Games has been held in Asia, and the second time held outside of the US. Almost 7,500 athletes will attend and will be joined by 40,000 volunteers and 3,500 event officials. Special Olympic athletes will compete in 25 different Olympic-type and demonstration sports such as: Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Cricket, Cycling, Dragon Boat Racing, Equestrian, Football (Soccer), Golf, Gymnastics, Judo, Kayaking, Lion Dancing, Powerlifting, Roller Skating, Sailing, Softball, Table Tennis, Team Handball, Tennis and Volleyball, as well as Motor Activities Training Program.

For over 25 years GK has outfitted many of the World?s top athletes in apparel featuring superior styling and quality. Based in Reading, Pennsylvania, Elite Sportswear, L.P., the company behind the GK brand, continues its commitment to American-made quality and continuous innovation in designs for Gymnastics, Figure Skating, Cheerleading, Dance, and Track and Field apparel. See GK online: http://www.GK-EliteSportswear.com.

Special Olympics is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition. Special Olympics offers children and adults with intellectual disabilities year-round training and competition in 30 Olympic-type summer and winter sports. You can find out more information about Special Olympics Team USA at their website http://www.specialolympicsteamusa.org.

For more information about the Special Olympics Summer World Games, visit their website at http://www.2007specialolympics.com/webenglish/Index.aspx.

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