Petitclerc visits fourth city on national tour to promote athletes training for Rio 2016 Paralympic Games
HALIFAX, April 21, 2016 /CNW/ - Team Canada's Rio 2016 Paralympic Games Chef de Mission Chantal Petitclerc hailed Halifax and the Maritimes for unending support to the Paralympic Games movement.
At the Canada Games Fieldhouse, Petitclerc joined with Cape Breton's Pamela LeJean, a double world championship medallist last summer in javelin and shotput, and other athletes training at the Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic. LeJean and her coach, Ueli Albert, guided supporters in trying out some para-athletics throwing events for themselves.
"It is wonderful to have a great athlete and role model such as Chantal visit us here in Halifax," said LeJean, also the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games shotput gold medallist. "Not only is it inspiring to spend time with her, Chantal's presence allows us to showcase our sport to a wider audience. That exposure is very valuable on the road to Rio and continues to spread the word about the Paralympic Games."
The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games will take place September 7 to 18, 2016. LeJean is aiming to make her Paralympic Games debut in Rio.
Petitclerc also met with Paralympic table tennis coach John Macpherson and future Paralympic hopefuls including 18-year-old para-table tennis player Curtis Caron, a silver medallist at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games.
"The Halifax area and the Maritimes in general have been a great contributor to Paralympic sport in Canada," said Petitclerc. "They've produced top athletes and held very successful events. It's been a privilege to meet the countless supporters of the Paralympic movement in the region and thank them for their involvement."
Petitclerc, a five-time Paralympian who won 21 medals at the Games in a brilliant wheelchair racing career, is crossing the country to promote Paralympic sport and athletes on the road to Rio. The eight-city tour got underway in December in Ottawa/Gatineau, followed by a stop in Calgary in January and Toronto in February.
The next stop on the Road to Rio tour will be Tuesday, April 26 in Montreal.
For more information about the Canadian Paralympic Committee: paralympic.ca
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SOURCE Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC)
Image with caption: "Photo: Canadian Paralympic Committee Caption: Halifax, April 21, 2016 - Rio 2016 Chef de Mission Chantal Petitclerc and local Rio 2016 hopeful in para-athletics Pamela LeJean presented a countdown clock to Halifax deputy Mayor Matt Whitman and the Honorable Kevin Murphy, Speaker of the Nova Scotia Legislature, at an event at the Canada Games Centre this morning to celebrate local athletes and coaches training for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. (CNW Group/Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160421_C5336_PHOTO_EN_671679.jpg
Alison Korn, Senior Manager, Media Relations and Communications, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Phone: 613-569-4333 ext. 243, Cell: 613-298-4927, [email protected]; Martin Richard, Executive Director, Communications and Marketing, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Cell: 613-725-4339, [email protected]
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