Media Advisory - Opening Ceremony June 20th to Commence 2014 Women's World Wheelchair Basketball Championship in Toronto

TORONTO, June 16, 2014 /CNW/ - The 2014 Women's World Wheelchair Basketball Championship begins on June 20 at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto, Ont., and members of the media are invited to attend the Opening Ceremony at 12:30 p.m. ET immediately prior to Team Canada's first game of the tournament.

The milestone event features teams from 12 competing countries and marks the largest women's world championship in the history of the sport. Team Canada is in pursuit of an unprecedented seventh consecutive podium finish at the world championship, and the tournament will be Canada's first major test on the road to the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games and the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

What:	Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Women's World Wheelchair Basketball Championship Team Canada's first game to immediately follow Opening Ceremony
Who:	Maureen Orchard, International Wheelchair Basketball Federation President The Hon. Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport) Province of Ontario rep (tbd) Kathy Newman, 2014 Women's World Championship Event Chair Participating National Team Athletes and Coaches
When:	Friday, June 20, 2014 Opening Ceremony - 12:30 p.m. ET Game: Canada vs. Japan - 1 p.m. ET
Where:	Mattamy Athletic Centre, Arena (3^rd Floor) - 50 Carlton St, Toronto, ON M5B 1J2

The media also has the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the Canadian Senior Women's National Team prior to the start of the world championship as Canada faces the United States in an exhibition game at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 17, 2014 at the Mattamy Athletic Centre.

For more information please visit www.2014wheelchairbasketball.com / #2014wcbasketball.

About the Event

Over 400 athletes, coaches, officials, delegates, and volunteers will attend the 2014 WWWBC that features 12 participating countries. Canadians can catch a sneak peek at the top 12 female wheelchair basketball players in Canada, including emerging local talent and highly decorated stars, preparing to compete in one of the most fiercely competitive and exciting spectator sports to be played at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

About Team Canada

Team Canada is in pursuit of an unprecedented seventh straight podium performance, remarkably, having medalled at every single world championship including the capture of four consecutive gold medals (1994, 1998, 2002, and 2006), and bronze medals in 1990 and 2010.

About the Host

Wheelchair Basketball Canada is the host of the 2014 Women's World Wheelchair Basketball Championship. The event marks Canada's fourth opportunity to host a landmark international wheelchair basketball championship - having previously hosted the Men's World Championship in 1994, the inaugural U23 Men's World Championships in 1997, and the first-ever U25 Women's World Championships in 2011.

 

SOURCE: Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC)

For more information, to request a photo, or to schedule an interview contact:

Courtney Pollock, Coordinator
Communications & Media Relations
Wheelchair Basketball Canada
Tel: [phone]
[email protected]

Jody Kingsbury, Manager
Marketing & Communications
Wheelchair Basketball Canada
Tel: [phone]
[email protected]

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