Congratulations to Mark Dempski 

 Congratulations to Mark Dempski of Apalachin for being selected and participating on the US Youth U14B Soccer Team associated with the People to People Sports Ambassador Program. 

 His soccer team participated in the World Friendship Games 2004, July 16 - 26. The World Friendship Games format is much like the Summer Olympics, with opening and closing ceremonies, and many sports competitions. The competitions were in baseball, basketball, swimming, bowling, soccer, tennis, volleyball, and wrestling. Hundreds of sports ambassadors from all over the United States attended these games. Mark joined up with his U14B soccer team in London, England. After the team was formed and visited London, they journeyed to Amsterdam, Holland, for the soccer games, known as the Haarlem Cup. Here he and 13 teammates represented the US. 

 The U14B team's record after the 1st two days of competitions was: 2 - 2 - 0. Denmark 2-0 (W), Scotland 0-4 (L), England 0-6 (L) and Finland 2-1 (W) (of which Mark enjoyed scoring one of the goals from defense and helping to win the game.) The first two days of competition put the team in 3rd place going into the final rounds. They then were placed into the top division. The team's final record was 2-6-0. During the trip, the team participated in a community project by helping to clear land for a facility being built for the handicapped. They also enjoyed touring Amsterdam and meeting players from many countries. 

 Mark has played soccer since he was eight-years-old (he started with TCYSA) and he's played travel soccer with the Hiawatha Soccer Association for the past six years. He played Owego-Apalachin Middle School modified soccer and track for two years. He now begins this 2004-2005 school year playing JV soccer for Owego Free Academy and U15B soccer with Hiawatha Lightning. 

 The People to People program has other sports ambassador programs around the world; in addition, it has student ambassador programs. If the player completes specific criteria, academic credit can be received from the Washington School of World Studies that may be applied to their high school credit.

  If you are interested in knowing more about the People to People ambassador programs, visit their Web site at www.sportsambassadors.org.