FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 3, 1996


OLYMPIC BADMINTON PLAYER ERIKA VON HEILAND TO LIGHT OLYMPIC CAULDRON AT THE
UNITED STATES OLYMPIC TRAINING CENTER

(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) -- Badminton player Erika Von Heiland (Anaheim,
Calif.) has been selected to light the Olympic cauldron at the Olympic
Training Center in Colorado Springs when the Olympic Flame comes through town
on May 12, 1996.  

As a part of the Community Celebration and its visit to Colorado Springs, a
special ceremony will take place to honor the United States Olympic Committee
and the many resident athletes at the Training Center.  The Community
Celebration will be a full day of activities and entertainment held in
Memorial Park culminating with the arrival of the Olympic Flame and a
tremendous fireworks program will signal the departure of the Torch from
Memorial Park to the Olympic Training Center.  

Von Heiland is not the only badminton player from the Olympic Training Center
involved in the Olympic Torch Relay.  Linda French of Elmhurst, Ill. will be
carrying the Torch in Limon, Colo. on May 13, 1996.  Both Von Heiland and
French have qualified for the Olympic Games in Atlanta this summer and they
both participated in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.

The 1996 Olympic Torch Relay, presented by Coca-Cola, will be the largest
Relay in history.  It began April 27, in Los Angeles, kicking-off an 84-day,
15,000 mile trek across the U.S.  Community heroes and Olympians will carry
the Torch through 42 states on its way to the Opening Ceremony of the
Centennial Olympic Games on July 19 in Atlanta.  

(FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT PAUL PAWLACZYK, USBA COMMUNICATIONS
DIRECTOR AT 719-578-4808 OR VIA E-MAIL AT USBA1996@aol.com).