“Both Frank and Contessa have been leaders on the Canadian goal ball scene, Frank as a coach and Contessa as a star player, and it is my pleasure to wish them both the very best in Athens as they defend the Canadian Gold Medal,” said Minister MacFadyen.

For the past 26 years, Frank has held the position of the Recreation and Sport Consultant for the PEI Recreation and Sport Association for the Physically Challenged (PEIRSAPC) where his duty has been to provide and maintain recreation and sport opportunities for residents of PEI who are physically challenged. Frank has been involved with the sport of Goalball since 1978. He was a player for 12 years, a referee for 15 years and a coach for the past 26 years. He has been the head coach for Team Canada since March 1997.

Frank has had a very successful coaching career. Since 1999, the Canadian Women’s Goalball Team has not placed lower than third in any International Tournament. He led the Canadian Women’s Goalball Team to a gold medal at the 2000 Paralympics in Sydney, Australia, and a silver medal at the 2002 World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Contessa Scott was born and raised on Prince Edward Island. She currently resides in Clyde River, PEI with her mother Laura Scott and her sister April.

Contessa became attached to the sport of Goalball at the young age of 11. She started to play for Team PEI in 1984. She carried Team PEI to silver medals at Nationals in 1996, 1998 and 2003. She was named to Team Canada in 1999 and since then has held Sport Canada Senior “A” carding status. Contessa was part of Team Canada when they captured the gold medal at the 2000 Paralympics in Sydney, Australia. Today she is the starting winger and backup centre of the Canadian Women’s Goalball Team that will be travelling to the Paralympics in Athens, Greece this month.

4,000 athletes, representing 144 countries in 19 sports, will participate in the ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games. The Paralympic Games are taking place from 17th to 28th September 2004.