MEDIA ADVISORY - REMINDER - Canadian Media Accreditation Process Underway for the London 2012 Paralympic Summer Games

OTTAWA, Jan. 18, 2012 /CNW/ - REMINDER - The Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) is accepting applications for press accreditation from Canadian print and internet media for the London 2012 Paralympic Summer Games. The deadline for applications is Monday, January 23, 2012.

Canadian media are invited to fill out the Press Organization Registration form available here:

http://www.paralympic.ca/images/ACCREDITATION_-_Press_Registration_-_Inscription_de_presse.xls and email it to [email protected] by January 23, 2012.

The dates of the Paralympic Games are Aug. 29 - Sept. 9, 2012. Canada is aiming for a top-eight finish in the gold medal count and expects to field a highly-competitive team of about 150 athletes competing in 16 sports. Qualification is ongoing and the final team will be announced in August 2012.

Please note that this is the only process for Canadian print and internet media to apply for accreditation for the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

The categories of accreditation for the London 2012 Paralympic Games are as follows:

1. "E": Written Press - journalist, editor, photographic editor employed or contracted by a world news agency, a national agency, a general daily newspaper, a sports daily, a sports magazine or sports internet site, a periodical or independent/freelance journalist under contract
2. "EP": Photographer - meeting the same criteria as those defined for category "E"
3. "ENR": Non rights-holding broadcast (radio and/or television) organization

Non-rights holding broadcast organizations (ENR) must apply through the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). The online application form is available at www.paralympic.org/events; applications must be submitted to the IPC by January 31, 2012.

The CPC expects to complete the allocation of print media accreditations before the end of February 2012 and will notify all applicants upon completion.

Detailed press accreditation information can be found by accessing the International Paralympic Committee's website at: http://www.paralympic.org/Paralympic_Games/London_2012/Media_Accreditation/index.html

The Press Accommodation Guide for the Paralympic Games is available here: http://www.paralympic.ca/images/Press_Accommodation_Guide_for_the_Paralympic_Games_-_September_2011.pdf

Information on the London Media Centre, for media NOT accredited to the Games, is here: http://www.londonandpartners.com/london-media-centre-2012/

About the Canadian Paralympic Committee

The Canadian Paralympic Committee is a non-profit, private organization with 46 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 Paralympic athletes 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.

About Team Canada and the London 2012 Paralympic Summer Games

• Building on the great success of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, Canada is looking to continue its winning ways at future Paralympic Games. The Canadian Paralympic Team is aiming to finish in the top eight nations at the London 2012 Paralympic Summer Games, based on gold medal count. This goal was established in collaboration with Own the Podium, Sport Canada and all summer National Sport Organizations.

• At the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Summer Games, Team Canada placed seventh overall, winning 19 gold, 10 silver and 21 bronze medals for a total of 50 medals.
  
  
• The level of competition and depth of field continue to increase for Paralympic Games. More than 150 countries - the most ever - are expected to compete in the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
  
  
• To compete in Great Britain is especially meaningful as it is the birthplace of the modern Paralympic Movement. It was Dr. Ludwig Guttman who first recognized the rehabilitative power of sport for injured soldiers. What started with one sport, archery, grew into the Stoke Mandeville Games in 1948. Since then, the Paralympics have grown to become one of the world's largest sporting events. The first official Paralympic Games took place in Rome in 1960.
  
  
• The Canadian Paralympic Committee's London 2012 Chef de Mission is Gaétan Tardif and Assistant Chef de Mission is Elisabeth Walker-Young. Gaétan has been involved in six previous Paralympic Team missions as a physician, Chief Medical Officer and as Assistant Chef. Elisabeth, now a sports administrator, competed at four Paralympic Games in swimming, winning six Paralympic medals.
  
  
• The exact Canadian team size will be determined closer to the Games as many sports are in the midst of qualifying. Canadian sports which have already qualified for London 2012 include men's and women's goalball and wheelchair basketball.