Media Advisory/Photo Opportunity - Come play Sledge Hockey and Wheelchair Curling at Winterlude!

Community is invited to experience new sports, meet athletes and learn how to get involved

OTTAWA, Feb. 6, 2012 /CNW/ - The Canadian Paralympic Committee, in partnership with the National Capital Commission, presents a Winter Parasport Festival on the Rideau Canal!

Meet members of the National Sledge Hockey Team, get autographs and see how they apply their athletic skills to earn gold medals for Canada! Try your hand at wheelchair curling and sledge hockey with the local club's junior programs!

The Canadian Paralympic Committee's Parasport Festival at Winterlude is designed to offer Canadians the chance to experience winter parasports for themselves and discover opportunities to get involved - whether as an athlete, coach, parent or volunteer. All activities are free and open to everyone!

WHEN:	Saturday, February 11, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
WHERE:	On the Rideau Canal near the National Arts Centre and Mackenzie King Bridge
WHO:	Members and alumni of Canada's National Sledge Hockey Team, of Sledge Hockey of Eastern Ontario, and local wheelchair curling athletes.
WHAT:	Come learn how to play sledge hockey! Players sit on a sledge, which is a narrow platform with skate blades attached to the bottom, and propel themselves using two specially constructed hockey sticks that have picks on the end. Everyone is invited to take part.
	Try your hand at wheelchair curling. In this sport, rocks are thrown from a stationary wheelchair, and there is no sweeping. Everyone is welcome to try it out!
	Get autographs from athletes and see their medals up close! Including: National Sledge Hockey Team captain Greg Westlake, Todd Nicholson, Marc Dorion, Brad Bowden, Jean Labonté, Hervé Lord, Adam Dixon, Billy Bridges and Dominic Larocque (currently a featured "Super Athlete" at facebook.com/CDNParalympics).

For more information, please visit Paralympic.ca/getinvolved.

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.  

Alison Korn
Manager, Media Relations
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Tel: [phone] ext. 243
Cell: 613-298-4927
[email protected]

Mark Dottori
Director, Marketing and Communications
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Tel: [phone] ext. 242
Cell: 613-294-5961
[email protected]

Web: Paralympic.ca
Facebook: Facebook.com/CDNParalympics
Twitter: @CDNParalympics
YouTube: YouTube.com/CDNParalympics