“These Games will be a great showcase for all of our athletes, who inspire Ontarians to lead active, healthy lives,” said Minister of Health Promotion Margarett Best. “By participating in these Games our talented Ontario ParaSport athletes and coaches are demonstrating their commitment to Paralympic sports.”
The event starts at 1:30 p.m. at Variety Village, located at 3701 Danforth Avenue, and attendees include Paralympic athletes David Willsie (wheelchair rugby), Darda Sales (swimming), Dax Adams (equestrian) and Brock Richardson (boccia).
“We would like as many Canadians as possible to join us on the road to Beijing 2008, and experience the spirit of the Paralympic Games,” said Debbie Low, the Canadian Paralympic Committee’s 2008 Beijing Games Chef de Mission. “The event at Variety Village and others across the country will provide Canadians with an opportunity to meet our athletes, and learn about the inspiring stories behind their Paralympic dreams.”
The Variety Village event is part of a cross-Canada Beijing Paralympic Media Tour being organized by the Canadian Paralympic Committee.
Guests will meet local ParaSport and Paralympic athletes while they mix and mingle, enjoy refreshments, and watch demonstrations of sports such as boccia, wheelchair tennis and wheelchair rugby.
Everyone will have the chance to sign the Beijing Paralympic Games “Good Luck” banner, which will be taken to Beijing and displayed in the Athletes’ Village.
Three events have already taken place in Vancouver, Edmonton and Regina and the Beijing Paralympic banner has already been signed by hundreds of Canadian well wishers.
The 2008 Ontario ParaSport Summer Games run July 25 and 26 in Toronto, and the Beijing Paralympic Games run from Sept. 6 -17 in China.
