PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS

Burkett named VISTA 2013 keynote speaker
The Australian Paralympic champion and biomechanics professor will discuss changes in wheelchairs and prosthetic legs at the VISTA 2013 conference.

Fankhauser wins Swiss Paralympic Newcomer Award
London 2012 silver medallist Tobias Fankhauser was named the Swiss Paralympic Newcomer of 2012.

NHL’s Vanek gives boost to Austrian sledge team
NHL player Thomas Vanek donated equipment and resources to help his father’s ice sledge hockey team make their first World Championships.

Jamaica’s Cunningham receives prestigious award
London 2012 gold medallist Alphanso Cunningham was named the Most Outstanding Male Athlete with a Disability at the Commonwealth Sports Awards gala.

Mareike Adermann: Experiences never end
Germany’s Mareike Adermann says that her drive to succeed has not ceased just because she won gold at London 2012.

Hug wins 3rd consecutive Oita Marathon
Switzerland’s Marcel Hug and Japan’s Tsuchida Wakako won the men’s and women’s T34/53/54 titles at the Oita Marathon.
Scheffers contributes to Dutch double
The Netherlands’ Maikel Scheffers and Jiske Griffioen won the men’s and women’s singles competition at the Nottingham Indoor wheelchair tennis tournament.

Eriksson moves from Paralympic to Olympic coach
UK Athletics confirmed that Paralympic head coach Peter Eriksson will become the nation’s Olympic coach, effective immediately.
Haiti celebrates day of para-sport with Agitos Foundation
More than 700 people gathered in western Haiti to raise awareness and promote Paralympic sport.

Oita Marathon to take centre stage
Switerzland’s Marcel Hug and Heinz Frei, and Japan’s Soejima Masazumi and Tsuchida Wakako will all take to the start line on Sunday in Oita City.