Ottobock Lends Hand at Wheelchair Rugby Test Event

“The test events provide an important opportunity for our teams to familiarize themselves with the environment and venues where they will operate during the London 2012 Paralympic Games.”

Ottobock kicked off its final phase of preparations for its role as the official prosthetic, orthotic and wheelchair technical service provider for the Paralympic Games by lending technical support to the Wheelchair Rugby London 2012 test event.

Ottobock is responsible for repairing wheelchair damage that characterizes this hard-hitting sport.

Technical service will be provided from an in-venue workshop in the Basketball Arena for the four teams competing from 18-19 April: Australia, Canada, Great Britain and Sweden.

“High impact sports such as wheelchair rugby keep us very busy, and we are prepared for a lot of welding and quick tire changes at the London 2012 Paralympic Games,” said Russell Pizzey, one of the British welders on Ottobock’s technical service team.

“The test events provide an important opportunity for our teams to familiarize themselves with the environment and venues where they will operate during the London 2012 Paralympic Games. We will also be providing technical service for the Boccia, Paralympic Archery, Wheelchair Tennis and Paralympic Athletics test events.”

A mobile unit that has been specially fitted out for the Games will also be in place with equipment and tools for welding, wheel repairs and tire replacements.

For London 2012, Ottobock will operate a 6,500-square foot workshop in the Athletes’ Village with smaller repair centres at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Village and at Egham Rowing and Canoe Sprint Village, as well as nine competition venues. These facilities will be fully equipped with the machinery and parts to solve any problems athletes have with their running blades or wheelchairs, as well as any other equipment they use to compete.

Ottobock has been a partner to the Paralympic Games providing technical service since the Seoul 1988 Games, and has completed approximately 10,000 repairs for athletes during the event since then. The 80-member Ottobock technical service team for London 2012 will be comprised of prosthetists, orthotists and wheelchair technicians from all over the world, including 16 from Great Britain.