Congresswoman Laura Richardson Rises to Recognize the UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss a particularly exciting event that will be held this weekend in my district. On February 10th-12th, The UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships will take place at the Home Depot Center Velodrome in Carson, California. The competition will welcome 230 athletes from 30 countries, including United States athletes: Allison Jones, Greta Neimanas, Clark Rachfal, Jennifer Schuble, Aaron Trent and California's very own, Anthony Zahn.

The UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships are the world championships for track cycling and is open to male and female athletes with physical disabilities such as amputation, visual impairment, spinal cord injury, wheelchair-users and cerebral palsy.

The UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships serves as the final qualifying event for U.S. athletes to be nominated to the 2012 U.S. Paralympic Cycling Team which will compete at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London this summer.

Mr. Speaker, the Paralympics are a major international multi-sport event, similar to the Olympics, for athletes with physical disabilities. Over 4,000 athletes from 146 countries compete in the games, which run in parallel with the Winter and Summer Olympic Games. The goal of the Paralympics is to empower persons with disabilities through sport.

Since its creation, the Paralympic games have been inspiring those with physical handicaps to realize their potential and strive to achieve their dreams. The Paralympics are making a difference in the lives of thousands of physically disabled people every day by focusing on participants' athletic achievements and ability rather than their limitations.

Mr. Speaker, I have always been a big supporter of the Paralympics and their goals and that is why I am pleased that this year, the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships will be held at the Home Depot Center in the 37th Congressional District. This marks the first time that the Home Depot Center will host a Paralympic event in its facility's history and just the second time ever, that the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships will be held in the United States.

The Home Depot Center, home of Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA, is designated as an ''Official U.S. Olympic Training Site,'' and is the first and only permanent indoor track of international standard in North America. It is a state-of-the-art facility that has brought much attention and prestige to my district.

In March 2011, I was able to join U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano in support of the ''See Something, Say Something'' campaign, which has since expanded to include The Home Depot Center. The campaign raises public awareness of indicators of terrorism and violent crime and encourages average citizens to identify and report indicators of terrorism, crime and other threats to the proper transportation and law enforcement authorities.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud that my district is able to host such an extraordinary event that continues to empower people with disabilities and in the process, inspire people around the world. I am sure that the people of California will embrace the spirit of the Games and will cheer on the athletes as they compete for the Paralympic games this summer.