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The first Army band unit will play the Star-Spangled Banner. And why are. Our cousins in the sex class the wielder basketball program and our other friends. It is a great honor and privilege to hold this exercise here today. In a very real way it marks the coming of an eighth. Of an activity that is only six years old. We have the fifty two associations are happy to sponsor this part of it and the light of the present the players their families coaches managers and trainers to the mayor and to the people of the city of New York. Or what we present them to New York we present them to the nation and to the world. The games that will be played starting this afternoon carry through. Tomorrow afternoon and evening Sunday afternoon at the Armory at Columbus Avenue sixty second Street. Will give a convincing support to our tournament motto that ability not this ability counts. More than that there will be outstanding demonstrations of sport Harcourt and clean and the best dressed up amateur athletic competition. It happens that the players in this tournament play in a wheelchair. But there are many times when they seem more vigorous. More able than their so-called able bodied fellow athletes in the field of sports. Spectators soon forget that the game is played in shares they expect no compromise and the players ask for nothing. For the fifty two association while this is a major activity it is just one activity in the year round program of service to the wounded and disabled. Almost daily you can see groups of guest dining at New York's best restaurants seeing our finest recreational centers and program. About every five days. We take a complete party with dinner to hospitals from Massachusetts to Virginia provide entertainment gifts and most important of all warm neighborliness. Just last week two Navy planes flew forty of our members to Washington where we entertain eight hundred patients at the best the Naval Medical Center. In addition to parties we provide jobs systems for disabled veterans and elaborate programs of hobby surprise for hospitals across the nation and a variety of other personal rehabilitation services. There was only one request we wish to make of the people of this great city that is come out to the armory at Columbus Avenue at sixty second Street see these courageous young men play games that are really exciting inspiring and most enjoyable. Fifty two hopes that I'll sponsorship of this tournament will give New York one more reason to be proud of its people. In closing I want to thank Mayor Wagner for taking time from his busy schedule to be with us. And to express our appreciation to Colonel Reich it and all the others who have helped to make this reception possible. Now it's a very great pleasure to introduce us to. A president of the fifty two Association of the ark just got. Pretty hard you know nice people I first want to thank the Lord for this most marvelous day that he has given us and while the air might be a little cool I'm sure the games will be hot. The twenty twenty three hundred men and women of the fifty two Association of New York are especially happy to sponsor the six National Wheelchair Basketball Tournament most of the players are over friends of fifty two their coaches and managers have worked with us before the local teams have enjoyed many of the services we are delighted to provide for them and we are very grateful to Mayor Wagner and us that for making this city hall reception possible it expresses the official interest of this great metropolis and the young but rapidly growing sport of wheelchair basketball more than that it reminds our millions of fellow New Yorkers of the important place filled by the disabled in our community and communities throughout the nation it reminds everyone that the proper question to ask about the disabled is not what can they do but what can they do these players assembled here and tens of thousands of others throughout the nation prove convincingly that a positive approach is the only proper approach. The fifty two Association and sponsoring this activity invites every one's interest and support not only for these three days but fifty two days weeks in the year with us and your own groups you can help to remember the wounded and disabled with devoted service Mr Mayor and friend because action speaks louder than words I want to thank you for this record reception I wanted to give fifty two form of Welcome to the players and I want to urge everyone to see the tournament sessions this afternoon and evening tomorrow afternoon and evening and Sunday afternoon at two hundred twelve group located at sixty second Street and Columbus OH thank you very much good luck and God bless you all. Thank you Mr Gottlieb. One of the most impressive aspects of wheelchair basketball is the fact that it is self-governing and democratically operated the president of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association is well known for the severely disabled of this community and across the country a former patient the Bronx that prince of ministration hospital a resident of Queens until a few days ago when he moved to the Bronx. How would you like your best country to do in many important ways for the advancement of the sport and to the welfare of severely disabled. It is a great pleasure to introduce the president of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association Harry Schweikert doing your. Day Ragnor. On a guest Major General. Which I basketball is now recognized sport seventeen different countries that represents a remarkable development for a sport which originated just six years ago there are twenty teams in our National Wheelchair Basketball Association this better than anything else supports our motto that ability not disability count. Last year's tournament in this city was considered to be the very best ever help we expect this you do the tournament even but even better there may not be many new records made last year nine out of eleven of all time individual records were broken seven out of thirteen all time records were broken and four out of five championship game individual records were broken off statisticians are the only people who are very happy with the form of the play. We play to win but I love a good competition and for the game itself just superior to any demand for victory at all costs our friends support us to victory and defeat we hope that we bring good will and respect for our team our school for our organizations and for our community one of the brightest spots in our record is the fact that I remember teams have raised in the neighborhood of two hundred thousand dollars for national and local approved charities and research programs while the national turn has not yet reached the point where it can be self-supporting believe that we are on the way the men and women of New York and the surrounding area can help us to achieve this very important. Golf by attending our games at the Armory on the SAT when you and sixty second Street today tomorrow and Sunday. It is not possible to thank all the friends of wheelchair basketball I do want to take this opportunity to thank Mayor Wagner and a staff of very good friends the men and women of the fifty two Association of New York the members of the Kennedy and community of this city and such outstanding organizations as the boat of the foundation Pan American World Airways the Sperry cooperation the American Red Cross and the armed forces it would be wrong first to admit the members of the New York City police and fire departments who are so cooperative and cordial all of. This is going to be the best national trauma we've ever had with the presence of the Canadian wheelchair wonders we must ought to think of calling this the wheelchair basketball tournament of the America perhaps we can look forward soon to our friends in the south joining us in friendly competition on the court with the world Veterans Foundation progressing on its plans for the Paralympics in New York in a wheelchair basketball could look forward to newer eyes into the sport an accomplishment we hope to the city of users tournament as bonafide sport we hope that many will appreciate the underlying significance of our form it's on the back of a basketball court you know our working lives as in our play lives we very sacred play that ability not just a felony count thank you very much. Thanks very much Terry. It is unnecessary for me to give a biographical sketch of the next speaker it is enough for me to say that we are greatly honored and tremendously pleased to introduce the mayor of the city of New York the honorable Robert F. Wagner. And friend. First of all welcome to New York City. It is a genuine pleasure to read the Montreal wheelchair one of those the University of Illinois gives kids carries the city rolling pioneers St Louis Rams the New Jersey willows The New York spokesman the Brooklyn whirled away to Queens charioteers the Bronx rollers and the fall of a watchmaker. I remember meeting with you last year and I am delighted that the fifty two Association of New York has brought this tournament to this city again. The fifty two association is typical of the hundreds of local organizations of men and women who gave all their time energy and funds to help others help themselves. I know that since nine hundred forty five fifty two Association has kept its place at the wounded shall never be forgotten with entertainment jobs health hobby programmers and adapted sports for hundreds of thousands of disabled veterans and service men. This tournament has become an outstanding symbol in action. Of the important idea that ability not disability campers at the disabled are. On the basketball court as in life itself you see no special favor you were asked to serve and increasingly get the chance to take your proper useful place in American life. The fact that most of you are working in responsible jobs that some of you are studying for productive careers is another bit of evidence that ability not disability can. I hope that this reception will encourage many of our fellow New Yorkers to go to the armory at Columbus Avenue and sixty second Street to see you in action all the good people of this city will find your tournament enjoyable exciting and inspiring I know that this is not a fun raising a band but wouldn't it be great to have so many people attending that we can actually say that we have not only carried our tournament but we will be able to help others help themselves many of you are here in this historic spot for the first time. That's another reason we are happy to have you visit us here at city hall I hope that while our out of town friends are here they will have a chance to see some of our city I know that you are here to play basketball but I am sure the fifty two Association has planned some time for sightseeing. You cared for when first place in the National Wheelchair Basketball Tournament but you have already won an important place in the heart of this city because daily you win your own contests in life you have won our admiration and respect have a successful tournament and may the best team win. Thank you very much Mr Mayor may we present you with tickets for the turn of. We would also like your sons Robert and Duncan to have a souvenir of this part of would you please give them this basket with our complements. The players and tournament personnel will drive up Broadway to the hotel and park a lunch of the for. The first session of the tournament at two thirty this afternoon the ceremony is now a part of the happy wreckage of the fifty two and National Wheelchair Basketball Association thank you very much.