Participate in Parasport Activities, meet Paralympians and Discover Opportunities to Get Involved

OTTAWA – September 14, 2011 – The Canadian Paralympic Committee is excited to help celebrate Sports Day in Canada by hosting its first Parasport Festival in Toronto on Saturday, September 17, at Maple Leaf Square.

Parasport is sport for people with a disability and is “para”llel to sport for able-bodied athletes, with adapted equipment or rules to make the game fun and accessible for everyone. Parasport Festivals offer Canadians a chance to experience parasports for themselves and discover opportunities to get involved – whether as a participant/athlete, coach, volunteer, guide, or classifier.

"Sport opportunities for people with a disability are not always well known and someone who acquires a disability may have no knowledge of parasport at all” said Henry Storgaard, CEO of the Canadian Paralympic Committee. “Through events like this, we aim to raise awareness of opportunities for everyone to become involved."

At Maple Leaf Square, (west side of the Air Canada Centre) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., members of the public are invited to sign in at our “Get Involved” tent, receive an “accreditation” lanyard just as if you were at the Paralympic Games and then take part in sport demonstrations and activities:

What:   Media photo and interview opportunity to mark Sports Day in Canada and learn more about Parasport. Everyone is invited to:

• Learn how to play sitting volleyball, which is played six-on-six with all participants playing from a sitting position.
• Get autographs from Paralympic Athletes and see their medals up close!
• Shoot Hoops with Wheelchair Basketball coaches
• Hit a few tennis balls while playing Wheelchair Tennis
• Try out a Race or Throw Chair with Para-Athletics
• Check out a downhill sit-ski from Para-Alpine

*Attending Media will have opportunities to participate in all activities!

When:  11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, September 17

Where:   Maple Leaf Square, 15 York Street, Toronto, Ontario (West side of the Air Canada Centre)

Who:   Everyone is welcome!

Paralympians: Tracey Ferguson (Wheelchair Basketball), Billy Bridges (Sledge Hockey), Curtis Thom (Para-Athletics), Kyle Pettey (Para-Athletics), Brandon Wagner (Wheelchair Basketball)

Volunteers, Coaches, Athletes and Administrators from: ParaSport Ontario, Toronto Tornadoes Parasport Club, Durham Attack Volleyball Club, Canadian Association of Disabled Skiing Ontario and Ontario Disabled Alpine Racing Team, Cruisers Sports for the Physically Disabled, and North York Little Aces.

Thanks to: Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association, Wheelchair Basketball Canada, Ontario Volleyball Association, Volleyball Canada, Canadian Association of Disabled Skiing, Athletics Canada, Tennis Canada.

About the Canadian Paralympic Committee

The Canadian Paralympic Committee is a non-profit, private organization with 46 member sports organizations dedicated to strengthening the Paralympic movement. The Canadian Paralympic Committee's vision is to be the world's leading Paralympic nation. Its mission is to lead the development of a sustainable Paralympic sport system in Canada to enable athletes to reach the podium at the Paralympic Games. By supporting Canadian Paralympic athletes and promoting their success, the Canadian Paralympic Committee inspires all Canadians with a disability to get involved in sport through programs delivered by its member organizations. For more information, visit www.paralympic.ca

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For more information:
Alison Korn                                             Kim McLachlan
Manager, Media Relations                   Coordinator, Athlete and Community Relations
Canadian Paralympic Committee       Canadian Paralympic Committee
Tel: 613-569-4333 ext. 243                   Tel: 613-569-4333 ext.225
Cell: 613-298-4927                               Cell: 613-883-1477
akorn@paralympic.ca                          kmclachlan@paralympic.ca

Paralympic.ca
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