Canadian Paralympic Committee encouraged by TO2015 progress for Parapan American Games

OTTAWA, April 25, 2013 /CNW/ - Following venue site visits and briefings this week with TORONTO 2015 Parapan American Games organizers (TO2015), the Canadian Paralympic Committee is pleased to see the headway being made and work being done to ensure these will be the best Parapan American Games in history.

"TO2015 has a vision for these Games that will create unforgettable experiences for the athletes, an invaluable legacy for the region and unprecedented visibility for parasport," said Jennifer Larson, Director of Sport for the Canadian Paralympic Committee. "We look forward to seeing these plans come to fruition and for the chance for Team Canada to compete on home soil, at the best ever Parapan American Games."

With all 15 sports contested in Toronto also qualifiers for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, the TORONTO 2015 Parapan American Games will showcase the best athletes in the Americas and the Caribbean.

Functional areas included in this week's briefing included Sport, Venues, Villages, Arrivals/Departures and Transport, Security and Accreditation, Accommodations and National Paralympic Committee Services

Venue tours featured visits to Ryerson Athletic Centre (wheelchair basketball), Varsity Stadium (archery), Mississauga Sports Centre (goalball, powerlifting and wheelchair rugby) and the Abilities Centre (boccia and judo).

Canadian Paralympic Committee staff also viewed from the outside the venues under construction: The CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Athletes' Village, the CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Athletics Stadium (athletics), Milton Pan Am/Parapan Am Velodrome (track cycling), Markham Pan Am/Parapan Am Centre (table tennis), University of Toronto Scarborough Tennis Centre (wheelchair tennis), and the Pan Am/Parapan Am Fields (football, football 5-a-side, football 7-a-side), and the Pan Am/Parapan Am Aquatics Centre and Field House presented by CIBC (swimming and sitting volleyball).

They came away impressed and inspired.

"Hosting the Games in Toronto will be an opportunity to enhance awareness for the Paralympic movement in the Americas, like the London 2012 Paralympic Games did in Europe," said Larson. "The TO2015 Organizing Committee has made both the Pan and Parapan American Games equal priority and this has resulted in a seamless organization of the two Games, the likes of which hasn't been seen before for the Parapans. This certainly bodes well for the Games in just over two years' time."

The Parapan American Games will be held August 7 to 14, 2015. For more information about the Games, please visit www.toronto2015.org

TO2015 photo available for download: http://www.paralympic.ca/images/stories/TO2015/SiteVisit/Village_April_4_2013.JPG

About the Canadian Paralympic Committee  

The Canadian Paralympic Committee is a non-profit, private organization with 46 member sports organizations dedicated to strengthening the Paralympic Movement. The Canadian Paralympic Committee's vision is to be the world's leading Paralympic nation. Its mission is to lead the development of a sustainable Paralympic sport system in Canada to enable athletes to reach the podium at the Paralympic Games. By supporting Canadian Paralympic athletes and promoting their success, the Canadian Paralympic Committee inspires all Canadians with a disability to get involved in sport through programs delivered by its member organizations. For more information, visit www.paralympic.ca

Image with caption: "Following venue site visits and briefings this week with TORONTO 2015 Parapan American Games organizers (TO2015), the Canadian Paralympic Committee is pleased to see the headway being made and work being done to ensure these will be the best Parapan American Games in history. (CNW Group/Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130425_C8867_PHOTO_EN_26024.jpg

SOURCE: Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC)

For further information:

Alison Korn
Manager, Media Relations and Communications
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Phone: [phone] ext. 243
Cell: 613-298-4927
[email protected]

Martin Richard
Executive Director, Communications and Marketing
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Tel: [phone] ext. 224
Cell: 613-725-4339
[email protected]

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