OTTAWA, Nov. 1, 2013 /CNW/ - Duncan Campbell (Vancouver, B.C.), the Canadian "Quadfather" acknowledged as the inventor of the sport of wheelchair rugby, will receive the prestigious Paralympic Order for lifetime contributions to the Paralympic movement, the International Paralympic Committee announced today.
The Paralympic Order is the highest tribute a person connected with the Paralympic movement can achieve. It will be presented on November 23 at the 2013 Paralympic Awards in Athens, Greece.
"It's a fantastic honour," said Campbell. "The game has given me more than I've ever given the game."
In 1976, Campbell and a small group of friends developed the basic rules, regulations and chair design that form the basis of the high impact, hugely popular Paralympic team sport.
Campbell, also known as "The Quadfather," continues to recruit and develop new talent and remains a major player in the sport in Canada. A mentor to internationally renowned players such as Garett Hickling and Ian Chan, Campbell has been personally involved in getting nearly every athlete on the national team from British Columbia involved, including Hickling, Chan, Travis Murao, Trevor Hirschfield and Byron Green.
"On behalf of the Canadian Paralympic Committee, I'd like to sincerely congratulate Duncan on this prestigious award," said Gaetan Tardif, President of the Canadian Paralympic Committee. "Duncan's contributions as an athlete, teacher, mentor and recruiter have paved the way for generations of athletes to participate in and become world leaders in wheelchair rugby. Team Canada's silver medal at the London 2012 Paralympic Games was a great tribute to Duncan's support and leadership over the years."
Campbell works as the National Coordinator of the Bridging the Gap Program and the Development Director at Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association.
He earned a BA in Psychology from the University of Manitoba and a BA in Recreation Administration from the University of Alberta.
Originally from Winnipeg, Man., Campbell is a resident of Vancouver, B.C.
About the Canadian Paralympic Committee
The Canadian Paralympic Committee is a non-profit, private organization with 25 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 high performance athletes with a disability 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
Image with caption: "In 1976, Duncan Campbell and a small group of friends developed the basic rules, regulations and chair design that form the basis of the high impact, hugely popular Paralympic team sport of wheelchair rugby. (CNW Group/Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131101_C9465_PHOTO_EN_32821.jpg
Image with caption: "Duncan Campbell (Vancouver, B.C.), the Canadian "Quadfather" acknowledged as the inventor of the sport of wheelchair rugby, will receive the prestigious Paralympic Order for lifetime contributions to the Paralympic movement, the International Paralympic Committee announced today. (CNW Group/Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131101_C9465_PHOTO_EN_32820.jpg
SOURCE: Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC)
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