Media Advisory/Photo Opportunity - TO2015 to Celebrate Two-Year Countdown to Parapan Am Games on Wednesday, August 7

Come out to cheer on local celebrities competing in wheelchair basketball game in Toronto, or join the fun in Whitby with Canadian athletes as they teach boccia, judo and other parasports

TORONTO, Aug. 1, 2013 /CNW/ - The two-year countdown to the TORONTO 2015 Parapan Am Games — the largest ever held — will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 7 with a celebrity wheelchair basketball game in Toronto and a formal ceremony and community parasport event in Whitby.

All events are free and open to the public. For more information, please visit TORONTO2015.org.

Famed Canadian wheelchair basketball star Richard (Bear) Peter will lead the 2:00 p.m. game, featuring sport and media celebrities as well as local politicians, at the Mattamy Athletic Centre at the Gardens, while Toronto Raptors announcer Matt Devlin will call the play-by-play action on the court.

The day's celebrations will start at 9:30 a.m. at the Abilities Centre in Whitby. Children from local summer camps, community members and dignitaries will have the opportunity to try boccia, judo and other parasports that the 1,500 athletes from the Americas and Caribbean will compete in in 2015.

The Town of Whitby will also receive a special mural, created by sports artist David Arrigo through the Pan Am Mural Experience presented by CIBC. The one-of-a-kind artwork captures the town's unique cultural and sporting history and will remain in Whitby as a permanent memento of the Games.

Two-Year Countdown Celebration in Whitby

When:	Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Time:	9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. (ET)
Where:	Abilities Centre 55 Gordon Street Whitby, ON

If you are interested in viewing the announcement online, please contact Chelsey Gotell to receive detailed instructions.

Parking for the Whitby event is available directly outside the Abilities Centre.

Celebrity Wheelchair Basketball Game in Toronto

When:	Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Time:	2:00 p.m. — 3:00 p.m. (ET)
Where:	Ryerson Athletic Centre (Mattamy Athletic Centre at the Gardens) Ryerson University 50 Carlton Street Toronto, ON

There are several paid public parking lots around the Mattamy Athletic Centre at the Gardens; however, please note that space is limited and subject to availability.

SOURCE: Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games

TO2015 will have a media sign-in and information table at each venue. For further information, please contact:

Chelsey Gotell
Communications Coordinator
TO2015
647.205.7091
[email protected]