Parasport Preview: Ten Canadians to compete in parasport events in Glasgow
Led by Team Canada’s Chef de Mission and Paralympic champion Chantal Petitclerc, a Canadian contingent of 10 accomplished athletes will compete in parasport events at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Full medal events for athletes with a disability have been included at the Commonwealth Games since 2002. For Glasgow, the parasport program has expanded to include 22 medal events across six sports.
“The Commonwealth Games have always been inclusive trendsetters in sport,” says Petitclerc, who won the Games’ first-ever integrated medal event, the 800 metres, in 2002. “With this ambitious program in Glasgow of 22 parasport medals, the Commonwealth Games are showing once again their respect for para athletes. The message they are sending is that for them, an athlete is an athlete, no distinction. This is very typical of the Commonwealth Games values. And that is one of the reasons why I am so proud to be Chef at these Games.”
Team Canada will have 10 athletes, many of them previous Commonwealth and Paralympic Games medallists, competing in three parasports in Glasgow:
Athletics: Josh Cassidy (Ottawa, Ont.), Diane Roy (Sherbrooke, Que.), Alexandre Dupont (Bradwell, Sask.)
Swimming: Morgan Bird (Calgary, Alta.), Aurélie Rivard (Montreal, Que), Katarina Roxon (Kippens, N.L.)
Lawn Bowls: Heather Hanett (Calgary, Alta.) and guide Susan Acorn (Calgary, Alta.), Al Hanet (Kelowna, B.C.) and guide Viola Hanet (Kelowna, B.C.)
Athlete biographies are available on the Commonwealth Games Canada website: commonwealthgames.ca
For interview requests or information on parasport at the Commonwealth Games, please contact:
Alison Korn
Media Attache (Parasport, Squash, Table Tennis, Lawn Bowls)
TEL : 011-44-7913595988
