Wheelchair Athletes Sue Olympics

Filed Discrimination Lawsuit Against U.S. Olympic Committee

(AP)  Three Paralympic athletes filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the U.S. Olympic Committee on Monday, saying the organization gives better benefits to Olympic athletes and is violating disabilities law.

Attorneys for wheelchair athletes Scot Hollonbeck of Atlanta, Tony Inguez of Aurora, Ill., and Jacob Heiveil of Bothell, Wash., said the USOC violated federal law by not providing the same benefits to Paralympians.

The benefits include health insurance, grants, help with living expenses and opportunities to promote the Paralympics.

The suit seeks unspecified compensatory damages.

The lawsuit said the USOC isn't complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act, and hasn't held up its end of a marketing contract with Vie Sports Marketing, which Hollonbeck helped form after the USOC decided to separate the Paralympics into a single brand in 2000.

The main focus of the lawsuit is funding for Paralympians. The USOC spends $3.75 million annually and about 3 percent of its quadrennial budget of $491.5 million on its Paralympic program.

USOC spokesman Darryl Seibel said the organization does more for Paralympic athletes than any other nation. He said funding for U.S. Paralympics was increased 100 percent from the previous budget to $15 million for 2001-04.