Canadian Paralympic Committee Celebrates Canada Day

Canada Day was celebrated with the Canadian Track and Field Trials as well as public events where people could try out para-sport 02 Jul 2012

Chantal Petitclerc concentrating before race in Beijing

ⒸLieven Coudenys

By IPC

"Our para-sport Festival is designed to spark curiosity and excitement for the Paralympic Games and build awareness of the opportunities within para-sport and how to get involved."

With the London 2012 Paralympic Games under two months away , the Canadian Paralympic Committee celebrated Canada Day, a national holiday on July 1, at special events across the country.

Around 150 Team Canada athletes will compete at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, which run from 29 August to 9 September.

"With the majority of Canadian athletes now having been nominated, we are looking forward with great anticipation this weekend to the 2012 Canadian Track and Field Trials in Calgary, to identifying the athletes who will be nominated in para-athletics on July 1," said Gaétan Tardif, Team Canada's Chef de Mission, shortly before the weekend.

To date, Canadian sports which have announced their nominated athletes include: wheelchair basketball, archery, equestrian, wheelchair tennis, swimming, sailing, boccia and wheelchair rugby.

Canada will also compete in goalball, rowing, cycling, judo, shooting and wheelchair fencing - be sure to look for these nomination announcements in coming weeks.

Meanwhile, at the grassroots level, the Canadian Paralympic Committee hosted a "Para-sport Festival" as part of the National Capital Commission's (NCC) Canada Day in the Capital celebrations at Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau, Québec.

The public was able to try out para-sports, test adapted sports equipment and get autographs from top London-bound Paralympic athletes, including six members of the men's national wheelchair basketball team.

"This year's Canada Day celebrations are truly special," says Henry Storgaard, CEO of the Canadian Paralympic Committee. "Our para-sport Festival is designed to spark curiosity and excitement for the Paralympic Games and build awareness of the opportunities within para-sport and how to get involved."