GB & NI Team Arrive in New Zealand

The Great Britain and Northern Ireland Athletics team will arrive in Christchurch, New Zealand on 18 January for the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships having recently landed in Auckland for a two week long training camp.

The GB & NI team for the World Championships features 40 athletes including defending champions like David Weir, Stephen Miller, Bev Jones and Dan Greaves who will all be keen to retain their titles in Christchurch.

Peter Eriksson, the UK Athletics' Paralympics Head Coach and Team Leader, is looking forward to the Great Britain team having a successful Championships, just like they did four years ago in Assen, the Netherland for the 2006 IPC Athletics World Championships.

He said: “This is the only major senior Paralympic event before 2012 and it will set our guidelines. We’ve selected a team we believe in and one which can be successful in 2011 and 2012 - almost half of the guys are new to the set up so it will be a hugely positive learning experience.

“We’ll have no excuses out here – we’re expecting a professional attitude from everyone. We all know it can get tough at times but if things don’t work out we’ve got time to make changes for 2012.

“I think that everyone is excited to be here in New Zealand. The climate is great, we’re at the optimum training facility and the mood in the camp is really good – we’ve seen a real shift in the team concept and we’re growing into one team who work together and will support one another in training and in competition. The fact that we’re preparing together here gives us a chance to perform to our best in Christchurch.”

In 2006, the British team finished fifth with a haul of 27 medals including nine gold, nine silver and nine bronze.

Tickets to see IPC Athletics World Championships, which runs from 21-30 January 2011, are now on-sale and adult tickets start from just $10 per day.