IPC Officially Certifies ParaGamesBreda in the Netherlands

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has officially certified the ParaGamesBreda (PGB), which will attract 3,000 athletes from more than 40 countries to the Netherlands from 6-9 October 2011.

Athletes will compete in 20 sports at the PGB, which will be the first time the event has been recognized by the IPC.

“This means we will be allowed to use the IPC logo at the Games, which of course is enormously charismatic and persuasive,” said PGB Chairperson John van Ierland.

“I am also happy for the athletes, volunteers and sponsors who have made ParaGamesBreda so successful. And of course, the Games are also an important event for the city of Breda, host a sporting event with such international allure. We are all thrilled with this fantastic news.”

Five top Dutch athletes will serve as ambassadors for the Games, including Johan Reekers (Para-Cycling), Kelly Sun (Para-Table Tennis), Agmaja Kolman (Rowing), Mirjam de Koning-Peper (Swimming) and Jack van Oosterhout (Showdown).

Reekers is a seven-time Paralympic, having competed in both Para-Cycling and Sitting Volleyball, while de Koning-Peper won two golds and two silvers at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.