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With less than one week to go until the start of the BT Paralympic World Cup in Manchester, Great Britain, International Paralympic Committee President Sir Philip Craven has promised the public that the event "will be a taster of things to come ahead of London 2012."

On Monday (23 May) 245 athletes from 34 countries will gather in Manchester for the seventh Paralympic World Cup an annual multi-sport competition for elite athletes with an impairment.

Covering three sports - Athletics, Swimming and Wheelchair Basketball - together with exhibitions in Boccia and Sitting Volleyball - some of the biggest names in Paralympic Sport will be in Manchester including South African `Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius and British World and Paralympic Swimming gold medalist Eleanor Simmonds.

Sir Philip Craven, IPC President said: "The BT Paralympic World Cup is a great event showcasing some of the best elite athletes from around the world.

"With London 2012 now just around the corner, I believe there will be more interest in the event this year than ever before.

"In 2011 Boccia and Sitting Volleyball will be represented for the first time as exhibition events alongside popular favourites such as Athletics, Swimming and my old sport of Wheelchair Basketball.

"I'd recommend that people turn out in force for this event as it will be a taster of things to come ahead of London 2012.

"Hopefully they'll come down, have a great time and then join the million plus people who have already signed up for tickets for the London 2012 Paralympic Games."

This year's BT Paralympic World Cup will be shown on Channel 4 with the broadcaster screening a two hour live programme on 28 May, as well daily highlights packages on 26 and 27 May. Live daily streaming from each sport will also be broadcast on the Channel 4 website: www.channel4.com/paralympics.

The BT Paralympic World Cup is sanctioned by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) and supported by ParalympicsGB, BT and Manchester City Council.

Tickets for the BT Paralympic World Cup are now on sale. For more information visit: www.btparalympicworldcup.com

Please visit www.tickets.london2012.comto sign up for London 2012 Paralympic Games tickets.

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Notes to the Editor:
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement. The IPC organizes the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games, and serves as the International Federation for nine sports, for which it supervises and co-ordinates the World Championships and other competitions. The IPC is committed to enabling Paralympic athletes to achieve sporting excellence and to developing sport opportunities for all persons with a disability from the beginner to elite level. In addition, the IPC aims to promote the Paralympic values, which include courage, determination, inspiration and equality.

Founded on 22 September 1989, the IPC is an international non-profit organization formed and run by 170 National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) from five regions and four disability specific international sports federations (IOSDs). The IPC Headquarters and its management team are located in Bonn, Germany.

For further information, please contact Craig Spence, IPC Media and Communications Senior Manager on e-mail: craig.spence@paralympic.orgor call +49-228-2097-230. Alternatively, please visit www.paralympic.org or www.ParalympicSport.TV