West Virginia University has experts available to discuss the Winter Olympics, specifically the psychology of elite athletes.

Three faculty members in the Sport and Exercise Psychology program are members of the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Sport Psychology Registry, which certifies them to work with Olympic athletes.

They are:

Ed Etzel , associate professor, WVU School of Physical Education; licensed psychologist for the WVU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics; areas of expertise include performance enhancement, counseling student-athletes and psychological aspects of sport injury.

Phone: 304-293-7062; e-mail: Edward.etzel@mail.wvu.edu

Jack Watson , assistant professor, WVU School of Physical Education; areas of expertise include mentoring, supervision, anger and aggression, motivation, youth sports, social psychology of sport.

Phone: 304-293-3295 ext. 5273; e-mail: jack.watson@mail.wvu.edu

Samuel Zizzi, assistant professor, WVU School of Physical Education, program coordinator, sport and exercise psychology program; areas of expertise include lifetime physical activity, applied sport psychology, performance enhancement, survey development, psychometric testing. He also works in local communities with churches and schools to help residents increase physical activity levels.

Phone: 304-293-3295 ext. 5240; e-mail: szizzi@mail.wvu.edu

The XX Olympic Winter GamesTorino 2006 begin tonight (Feb. 10) and continue through Feb. 26.