Aldis Berzins This is Me

 View all 7 references Web References

1. 1. Aldis Berzins reflects on Gold

   www.specialolympics.org/Specia - [Cached]

   Published on: 8/23/2004   Last Visited: 9/19/2006

   English > Press Room > Global News Archive > 2004 Global News Archive > Aldis Berzins reflects on Gold
   ...
   Aldis Berzins, Director of Information Technology Initiatives for the Special Olympics headquarters office in Washington, D.C., knows what the teams were going through. Berzins was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic volleyball team that won the gold medal in Los Angeles, California.
   
   Aldis Berzins and fellow members of the 1984 U.S. Olympic volleyball team Aldis Berzins, #12 and on the right, and fellow members of the 1984 U.S. Olympic volleyball team celebrate after winning gold. [Photo courtesy Aldis Berzins]
   
   "Winning the gold medal was the best feeling in my life," says Berzins.
   ...
   In addition to his Olympic medal, Berzins was a member of the team that won the gold medal at the 1985 World Cup. He also competed in the 1978 and 1982 World Championships and in the 1979 Pan Am Games. In 1980, Berzins was a member of the USVBA Male All-Rookie Team. Over the course of his playing career, Berzins won several prestigious awards. He was selected to the 1985 World Cup All-Tournament Team. He won the 1985 Southland Corporation Olympia Award for Excellence in Academics and Athletics. He was named MVP of the USA National Team in 1983. More recently, Berzins was inducted into the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1995 and into the Ohio State University Sports Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2003, he was selected to the USA Volleyball 75th Anniversary 1978-2003 All-Era Team.
   
   Berzins says his most memorable experience in competition was defeating Brazil in the finals at the 1984 Olympics. "We went down to Brazil afterwards for a volleyball tour," he adds. "We played in front of sold-out crowds - 40,000 Brazilians cheering 'BRA-ZIL BRA-ZIL' and throwing stuff at us. It was a fantastic atmosphere to play in, with police in riot gear spaced around a moat surrounding the volleyball court. In my mind I kept telling myself they were cheering for me: 'BER-ZINS BER-ZINS.'"
   
   Aldis Berzins, Director of Information Technology Initiatives for Special Olympics
   ...
   Aldis Berzins, Director of Information Technology Initiatives for Special Olympics headquarters, in his Washington, D.C. office. [Photo by John Stewart]
   ...
   Before coming to Special Olympics, Berzins ran his own software company that sold coaching software.
   ...
   "I sold the company and wanted to work for a meaningful cause," said Berzins, "so I applied for an open IT position at Special Olympics." His first project for the movement was the Program Development System (PDS), which guides Special Olympics Programs through their growth and development. His current focus is on helping Games Organizing Committees implement technology solutions for Special Olympics World Games.
   
   Berzins believes volleyball, like all team sports, teaches people to work together.
   ...
   As an elite athlete and coach, Berzins offers advice to all current and aspiring athletes: "Get involved in sport, any sport. Train hard. Listen to your coach.

2. 2. Aldis Berzins reflects on Gold

   www.specialolympics.com/Specia - [Cached]

   Published on: 8/23/2004   Last Visited: 9/15/2006

   English > Press Room > Global News Archive > 2004 Global News Archive > Aldis Berzins reflects on Gold
   ...
   Aldis Berzins, Director of Information Technology Initiatives for the Special Olympics headquarters office in Washington, D.C., knows what the teams were going through. Berzins was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic volleyball team that won the gold medal in Los Angeles, California.
   
   Aldis Berzins and fellow members of the 1984 U.S. Olympic volleyball team Aldis Berzins, #12 and on the right, and fellow members of the 1984 U.S. Olympic volleyball team celebrate after winning gold. [Photo courtesy Aldis Berzins]
   
   "Winning the gold medal was the best feeling in my life," says Berzins.
   ...
   In addition to his Olympic medal, Berzins was a member of the team that won the gold medal at the 1985 World Cup. He also competed in the 1978 and 1982 World Championships and in the 1979 Pan Am Games. In 1980, Berzins was a member of the USVBA Male All-Rookie Team. Over the course of his playing career, Berzins won several prestigious awards. He was selected to the 1985 World Cup All-Tournament Team. He won the 1985 Southland Corporation Olympia Award for Excellence in Academics and Athletics. He was named MVP of the USA National Team in 1983. More recently, Berzins was inducted into the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1995 and into the Ohio State University Sports Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2003, he was selected to the USA Volleyball 75th Anniversary 1978-2003 All-Era Team.
   
   Berzins says his most memorable experience in competition was defeating Brazil in the finals at the 1984 Olympics. "We went down to Brazil afterwards for a volleyball tour," he adds. "We played in front of sold-out crowds - 40,000 Brazilians cheering 'BRA-ZIL BRA-ZIL' and throwing stuff at us. It was a fantastic atmosphere to play in, with police in riot gear spaced around a moat surrounding the volleyball court. In my mind I kept telling myself they were cheering for me: 'BER-ZINS BER-ZINS.'"
   
   Aldis Berzins, Director of Information Technology Initiatives for Special Olympics
   ...
   Aldis Berzins, Director of Information Technology Initiatives for Special Olympics headquarters, in his Washington, D.C. office. [Photo by John Stewart]
   ...
   Before coming to Special Olympics, Berzins ran his own software company that sold coaching software.
   ...
   "I sold the company and wanted to work for a meaningful cause," said Berzins, "so I applied for an open IT position at Special Olympics." His first project for the movement was the Program Development System (PDS), which guides Special Olympics Programs through their growth and development. His current focus is on helping Games Organizing Committees implement technology solutions for Special Olympics World Games.
   
   Berzins believes volleyball, like all team sports, teaches people to work together.
   ...
   As an elite athlete and coach, Berzins offers advice to all current and aspiring athletes: "Get involved in sport, any sport. Train hard. Listen to your coach.

3. 3. Aldis Berzins - member of USAV 1978-2003 A11-Era Team

   www.alausa.org/aldisberzins.ht - [Cached]

   Published on: 5/22/2003   Last Visited: 4/2/2005

   Aldis Berzins - member of USAV 1978-2003 A11-Era Team
   
   Aldis Berzins was selected to the USA Volleyball 75th Anniversary 1978-2003 All-Era Team and presented at the Dorothy C. Boyce Banquet in Minneapolis, Minnesota May 22, 2003.
   
   Aldis Berzins had a long and noteworthy USA National Team career, which spanned eight years, from 1977 to 1985. Berzins was a member of gold-medal winning teams at the 1984 Olympics and the 1985 World Cup. He also competed in the 1978 and 1982 World Championships and in the 1979 Pan Am Games. In 1980, Berzins was a member of the USVBA Male All-Rookie Team, along with MVP Karch Kiraly. Along the way Berzins garnered several prestigious awards. He was selected to the 1985 World Cup All-Tournament Team. He won the 1985 Southland Corporation Olympia Award for Excellence in Academics and Athletics. He was named MVP of the USA National Team in 1983. More recently, Berzins was inducted into the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1995 and into the Ohio State University Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.