Honoring its History, Inspiring the Future: Disabled Sports USA Invites Severely Injured U.S. Soldiers to Participate in The Hartford Ski Spectacular.

BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. -- Members of the U.S. Paralympic Ski Team Will Mentor Soldiers Wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan at 18th Annual Week-Long Learn-to-Ski Event in Breckenridge, Colorado 

The nation's best Paralympic skiers will ski with and mentor the U.S. military's best and bravest, those severely wounded in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, at the 18th annual The Hartford Ski Spectacular at Beaver Run Resort at the Breckenridge Ski Area on Dec. 4-11. The nation's largest winter sports event for people with physical disabilities will be conducted by U.S. Olympic Committee member Disabled Sports USA and sponsored by The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG), the founding sponsor of U.S. Paralympics.

In addition to the more than 600 participants expected at this year's event, DS/USA will host 75 American soldiers who have been injured in conflict abroad, as well as 50 of their family members. Members of the U.S. Paralympic Team, which is comprised of Olympic-level skiers with physical disabilities, will provide support to the wounded service members, passing on knowledge about ski racing, as well as living an active, productive life with a disability. Each elite skier has a unique perspective to share, learned through competition in sports.

Disabled individuals of all ages from around the country also will attend The Hartford Ski Spectacular. Throughout the week, they will have access to learn-to-ski and learn-to-snowboard clinics, as well as adaptive equipment demonstrations provided by the most experienced adaptive sports organizations from around the globe. Sessions will be held daily, and activities will include:

--Learn to Ski/Snowboard Program

--Alpine Learn-to-Race Program

--Nordic Ski Clinics

--An Adaptive Instructor Academy conducted for the Professional Ski Instructors of America

--Slalom and Giant Slalom Qualifying Races with Paralympic athletes preparing for the 2006 Paralympic Games to be held in Torino, Italy in March.

A complete schedule of events and registration information can be found on the Web at: http://www.dsusa.org/winter-hartford.html

"Since 1967, Disabled Sports USA's mission has been to promote sports as an important aspect of rehabilitation. The Hartford Ski Spectacular allows participants the opportunity to test their limitations and then surpass them," said Kirk Bauer, executive director of DS/USA and a disabled Vietnam veteran. "It has been a great feeling, for the past 18 years, to watch disabled people from all walks of life regain their confidence on the slopes and enjoy a sport that they love, or in some cases, to experience the exhilaration of snow sports for the very first time."

A leading disability insurer, The Hartford Financial Services Group has been the title sponsor of Ski Spectacular for 12 consecutive years. For more than a decade, The Hartford has sponsored sporting events, organizations and individuals in order to positively shape attitudes toward disability and to raise awareness of what individuals with a disability can achieve in sports, at work and in all aspects of life. The Hartford and DS/USA recognize sports as a valuable way to regain self confidence following a disability.

"The Hartford is pleased to continue as title sponsor for an event focused on sports as a way to return to an active, productive life," said Dick Mucci, executive vice president and director of The Hartford's Group Benefits Division. "It's gratifying to see so many powerfully determined individuals test their capabilities and discover anew the success they can attain by focusing on their abilities, not physical limitations."

"I was injured in Fallujah, Iraq on Sept. 17, 2004, by a roadside bomb and five subsequent gunshots," said Joe Worley, Petty Officer Third Class in the U.S. Navy. "Now that I am home, I want to return to all of the activities I did before my war injury and set a positive example for my family and my fellow service members. My hope is that The Hartford Ski Spectacular will help me to feel more confident as I achieve my goals and build a foundation of success for future endeavors."

The Hartford Ski Spectacular is sponsored by The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. The Wounded Warrior Project and Non Commissioned Officers Association are supporting the efforts to bring in the wounded military to the event. Additional sponsors include Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center, Breckenridge Ski Resort, Mitsubishi Electric  America Foundation, Professional Ski Instructors of America, Jet Blue Airways, DS/USA host chapter Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center and Schwartz Communications.

In addition to its title sponsorship, The Hartford is sponsoring five families to attend a disabled veterans program held at the start of Ski Spectacular.

About Disabled Sports USA

Founded in 1967 by disabled Vietnam veterans, Disabled Sports USA provides opportunities for individuals with disabilities to gain confidence and dignity through sports, recreation and educational programs. The organization is the nation's largest multi-sport, multi-disability organization and serves more than 60,000 people nationwide. A member of the U.S. Olympic Committee, DS/USA conducts regional, national and international training camps and competitions to prepare athletes for the Paralympic Games--the international Olympic-sanctioned competitions for athletes with physical disabilities. DS/USA also offers sports rehabilitation programs through its nationwide network of over 80 community-based chapters. More information is available at www.dsusa.org.

About The Hartford

The Hartford is one of the largest financial services and insurance companies in the U.S., with worldwide revenues of $22.7 billion in 2004. The company is a leading provider of investment products, life insurance and group benefits; automobile and homeowners products; and business property-casualty insurance. International operations are located in Japan, Brazil and the United Kingdom. The Hartford's Internet address is www.thehartford.com.

About Wounded Warrior Project

The Wounded Warrior Project was founded to give a voice to the new generation of veterans facing unique issues and problems. The Project fills the vital need for a coordinated, united effort to enable wounded veterans to aid and assist each other and to readjust to civilian life.