Canadian Paralympic Committee commends the Government of Canada for the 2010
Budget and the support it provides to Paralympic Sport

OTTAWA, March 5 /CNW Telbec/ - On the eve of Canada's first Paralympic Winter Games, the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) and the athletes it represents, would like to thank the Minister of Finance, James Flaherty, and the Federal Government for the tremendous financial support of $10M, over two years, that they have extended in the latest budget. This increase in funding demonstrates the Federal Government's commitment to building on the successes of our Paralympians and encouraging persons with disabilities to actively participate in sport and recreation.

"On behalf of the CPC, I would like to thank the Minister of Finance, James Flaherty, and the Federal Government for their recognition for the need to grow support for the Paralympic Movement in Canada," said Carla Qualtrough, president of the CPC. "The CPC works to support and celebrate the success high-performance Paralympic athletes, and by their example of courage, commitment and collaboration, inspire all Canadians, including those living with a disability, to participate in sport."

The Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) is a non-profit organization that depends on private sponsorship and government funding to create the optimum high performance environment for Canadian Paralympians to succeed at Paralympic Games. This money is above and beyond that provided by Sport Canada and represents entirely new money allocated to the CPC.

"With the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games just one week away, and the Canadian Paralympic Team expected to finish in the top three gold medal winning nations, this announcement provides an incredible boost to the current momentum," said Henry Storgaard, chief executive officer of the CPC. "The Government of Canada has been a strong champion of the Paralympic movement, and combined with increased awareness, this funding marks the beginning of a very bright future for Paralympic sport in Canada."

Canada has a strong tradition of success in Paralympic sport and the 2010 Canadian Paralympic Team are expected to excel once again at the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games. This tremendous financial support will allow us to enhance our training and competitive programming for our athletes and develop a sport system for the disabled from the 'playground to the podium' to continue deliver medal winning performances at future Games.

About the Canadian Paralympic Committee

The Canadian Paralympic Committee ("the CPC") is a non-profit, private organization with 43 member sports organizations dedicated to strengthening the Paralympic Movement. The CPC is responsible for creating an optimal high-performance environment for Canadian Paralympic athletes to win at Paralympic and Parapan American Games. By supporting Canadian Paralympic athletes and promoting their success, the CPC inspires all Canadians with a physical disability to get involved in sport through programs delivered by its member organizations. The Canadian Paralympic Committee is currently preparing for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, taking place from March 12 - 21, 2010 and where 55 Canadian Paralympic athletes will compete in Para-Alpine skiing, Para-Nordic skiing (cross-country skiing and biathlon), sledge hockey and wheelchair curling. For more information, visit www.paralympic.ca.

For further information: Anna Parisi, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Tel: [phone], Email: [email protected]