World T.E.A.M. Sports at 20 Years October 2013 | Page 8
The Exceptional Athlete Matters:
A History of World T.E.A.M. Sports
A Founder’s Vision
J
ames Benson, a Boston businessman originally from suburban
Chicago, founded World T.E.A.M. Sports in 1993. As a high
school student in McHenry, Illinois in 1960, Benson became
aware of a fellow student, Ricky Prine, who was talented not only in
the classroom but also consistently showed signs of great athletic
ability. However, Prine was disabled and was consistently excluded
from activities by his peers. Benson saw something different in Prine
and recognized him as a capable person, notwithstanding his
disability. It was through this formative experience that Benson made a
promise that if ever given the opportunity, he would create an
organization committed to providing more opportunities to
individuals living with a disability and he would use the power of
sports to make them possible.
The First Decade
I
n 1987, colleagues Benson and Stephen Whisnant were intrigued
by the possibility of accomplishing an athletic achievement
previously thought to be impossible. This led them to organiz ?)???=?????????I?????????????????????????????????????()?????????????9?????? ??????
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