PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS

Australia name first members of Lyon 2013 team
Evan O’Hanlon, Kelly Cartwright, Richard Colman, Todd Hodgetts and Kurt Fearnley will compete at the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships.
Skiers scramble for points at Alpine Skiing World Cup
In the penultimate event of the 2012-13 IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup, everything is still to play for in the rankings.

Spain’s Santacana to be home favourite in La Molina
Visually impaired skier Jon Santacana will be one to watch at the 2013 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships.

WSF and IPC continue Co-operation Agreement
The future of para-snowboard looks bright as the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the World Snowboard Federation (WSF) continue to develop the sport.
Davies named new British Wheelchair Basketball Performance Director
Paul Davies will begin his new role as Performance Director of British Wheelchair Basketball programmes on 2 April.

Du Toit Appointed to Board of Directors to SAIDS
Multiple Paralympic champion Natalie du Toit has been appointed to the new Board of Directors at the South African Institute of Drug Free Sport (SAIDS)

US Paralympics selects team for La Molina
The US team will feature 13 athletes and two guides for the World Championship event that starts on 18 February.

Du Toit describes London as world leader in Paralympic Movement
The multi-Paralympic champion praised the success of London 2012 at this week's Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards.

LOCOG publishes 2011-2012 report and accounts
LOCOG on Friday (8 February) published its accounts for the 18 month period ended 30 September 2012.

Channel 4 secures 2014 and 2016 Paralympic Games rights
IPC awards broadcaster rights following highly competitive tender process

New Russian coach says wheelchair curling title up for grabs
Russia will try to defend their title at next week’s World Wheelchair Curling Championships on their home ice in Sochi.

IPC Swimming to hold consultation meeting
NPC and IOSD representatives will take part in open discussions in April to further develop IPC Swimming.

Sledge Spotlight: Gregory Leperdi
Italy’s Greg Leperdi can be credited for much of ice sledge hockey’s growth in Italy, as he helped organise this week’s tournament in Torino.

Chuck Aoki: Who am I?
In his first IPC blog, American wheelchair rugby player Chuck Aoki shares his background and invites readers to interact with him.

Germany’s Rothfuss eager to face French rival
Germany’s Andrea Rothfuss will challenge France’s Marie Bochet for gold at the 2013 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships next month.

IPC launches NPC Namibia website
Just six months since winning their first Paralympic gold, a new website has been launched for the National Paralympic Committee of Namibia.
Draw made for Wheelchair Basketball Euros
Defending European champions – Great Britain’s men and Germany’s women – will look to retain their regional titles this summer in Frankfurt.

IPC launches NPC Namibia website
Just six months since winning their first Paralympic gold, a new website has been launched for the National Paralympic Committee of Namibia.

Champions back in London to defend their titles
British capital set to play host to one of the best marathon fields ever