SOUTH AMERICANS ADDED TO OLYMPIC QUALIFIERS May 16, 1996 (D.Shuttlenws) - Two badminton players from South America today received the best gifts of their badminton lives when the International Badminton Federation added their names to the list of Atlanta Olympic Games qualifiers. The lucky two are Kenneth Erichsen of Guatemala and Mario Carulla of Peru. They were added to the Olympic qualifying list as two of the six wild card selections that were to be allotted to countries with small Olympic participation or nations where badminton is a developing sport. A wild card could also be given to a player from a country with special Olympic ties. Erichsen and Carulla's selection is in line with the badminton federation's new emphasis on encouraging the sport in the Americas. Other wild card additions to the badminton Olympic players list are: Oscar Brandon of Surinam Rhonda Cator of Australia Diana Koleva of Bulgaria Andrea Odor of Hungary. Cator's selection to the list as a wild card is due to Australia's role as host country of the 2000 Olympiad. The badminton federation is trying to increase the spotlight on the sport in Australia and hopes that Cator's joining the other 7 Australian qualifiers will increase the chances of a newsworthy Australian performance in Atlanta. COPYRIGHT 1996 by D.Shuttlenws@genie.com PERMISSION GIVEN to redistribute electronically in whole or in part.