Beijing hopefuls head to Manchester for Paralympic World Cup

Some of the world’s best elite athletes with a disability from swimming, track cycling, wheel chair basketball and athletics will gather in Manchester for this week’s Paralympic World Cup (7th – 11th May).

Now in its fourth year, the 2008 Paralympic World Cup will be the biggest yet with close to 400 athletes from 45 different countries using the event to fine tune their preparations ahead of the Paralympic Games in Beijing in September.

A strong list of GB names face stiff competition from a host of top quality international athletes, which will also include a record delegation of over 60 athletes from the Paralympic hosts, China.

With an additional day of competition added in both track cycling and swimming, and record numbers taking part across all four sports, the event is sure to offer a real platform for those aiming to be successful at the Paralympic Games.

Speaking today on the eve of action getting under way in Manchester were four of Britain’s best hopes for Beijing.

Swimmer Natalie Jones, athlete Ian Jones, wheelchair basketball player Ann Wild and track cyclist Anthony Kappes will have high hopes of a golden double in Manchester and Beijing. The quartet today reflected on the exciting five months ahead of them as well as the new developments at this year’s Paralympic World Cup.

In swimming, an additional day of competition will mean more athletes than ever before competing at the Aquatics Centre. Manchester-based world number one at 200m IM, Natalie Jones said:

“The Paralympic World Cup is a great event in the sporting calendar and this year holds even more importance to everyone involved. As someone who lives and trains in Manchester, I am thrilled that the city is hosting such a world-class event, and hope the thousands of spectators will be treated to some nail biting and world record beating competition over the coming days.”

Wheelchair basketball will continue the same thrilling format as last year and will be hosted in a new venue, the Manchester Regional Arena. Team GB will again face some strong competition including a men’s team from the Paralympic silver medallists, USA and, in the women’s competition, a team from China.

Leading women’s Team GB player Ann Wild was excited by the prospect of facing a team from the hosts of the Paralympic Games. She said:

“It’s always a great competition and there will be an added attraction of having the Chinese team over. It promises to be a wonderful few days on court and I can’t wait for things to get underway.”

With the track cycling schedule remodelled to replicate the World Championships, it means record numbers will come to Manchester for two days of competition.

Top GB track cyclist Anthony Kappes, a local favourite, has enjoyed success at the Paralympic World Cup before and is aiming for a repeat this week. He said:

“It is rare to get the chance to compete on home soil against such top athletes so I have been preparing for this event for a while. With the additional level of competition in the cycling competition, I would encourage anyone who hasn’t experienced elite disability sport before to come along to all the venues and support Team GB.”

With athletics again sure to provide a fitting climax to the event on Sunday, another local athlete, 100 and 400m runner Ian Jones, was looking forward to competition. The 18-year-old, who is aiming for his first Paralympic Games later this year, said:

“I can’t wait for competition to begin in Manchester this week. Everyone knows that 2008 is all about Beijing and this week marks the final phase of my preparations towards my first Paralympic Games. This year the World Cup promises to be a real preview of Beijing with some great names from Team GB and the rest of the world in action.”

The Paralympic World Cup is the biggest international multi sport tournament for elite athletes with a disability outside of the Paralympic Games.

Phil Lane, ParalympicsGB chief executive, said: "I am delighted to welcome all the competitors to this year's Paralympic World Cup to an extended programme of competitions across five days of elite level sport.

"Many of the top medal hopes for Beijing will be in action this week in Manchester and therefore the event should provide an excellent preview to the Games in September."

The Paralympic World Cup was created to provide an annual world-class multi-sport disability event and to give elite athletes more opportunity to compete with their international counterparts in between the four yearly Paralympic Games.

Hosted by the British Paralympic Association, it is sanctioned by the IPC and IWBF, and supported by UK Sport, Manchester City Council and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA). The BBC has again committed to cover the event as they continue to showcase elite disability sport ahead of the Paralympics.

The event is staged in three of Manchester’s world class venues – the Velodrome, Regional Arena and Aquatics Centre – with competition kicking off on Wednesday 7th May through Sunday 11th May.

Martin Morton, Senior Events Consultant at UK Sport, said:

“As the Paralympic World Cup, continues to grow, UK Sport is delighted to support the event through it's lottery funded World Class events programme. I am particularly look forward to seeing some World Class performances in Manchester during this critical build up to the Paralympic Games in September, and I’m sure the British team will rise to the occasion.”

Peter Mearns, Executive Director of Marketing at the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), said:

"This year's Paralympic World Cup takes on extra significance as athletes from around the world prepare for the Beijing Paralympic Games. With Manchester's world-class facilities and experience of hosting events for athletes with a disability, it is no wonder that the event has attracted record numbers of athletes.

Major sporting events are hugely important to our region, both in terms of promoting the Northwest on the international stage and in economic benefit. The Paralympic World Cup is a significant part of Manchester’s Year of Sport and is expected to inject around £1 million into the local economy."

Tickets for the Paralympic World Cup are available on www.paralympicworldcup.com or by phone on 0871 230 5595

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FOR FUTHER INFORMATION:

• Contact Alex Brown at Fast Track: m.07803 037 530, o. 0207 593 5275

• Visit www.paralympicworldcup.com

• Text WORLDCUP2 to 84880.

Notes to editors

• The Paralympic World Cup will take place in Manchester from 7th to 11th May 2008.
• 400 athletes from 45 countries will compete in 4 sports; athletics, track cycling, swimming and wheelchair basketball.
• The event is hosted by the British Paralympic Association and funded by UK Sport, Manchester City Council and the Northwest Regional Development Agency.
• Tickets are available on www.paralympicworldcup.com or by phone on 0871 230 5595

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