Guadalajara, MX – The Canadian Men's & Women's National Wheelchair Basketball Teams will compete at the Parapan American Games November 12-20, 2011 in Guadalajara, Mexico. Both teams are vying for a top three finish at the competition to secure a berth in the 2012 Summer Paralympic Games inLondon, England.
TV/Photo Op: Team Canada athletes will put their skills to the test in their final major international competition prior to the 2012 Summer Paralympic Games
Who: Canadian Men's & Women's Wheelchair Basketball Teams
What: Canadian Wheelchair Basketball Teams competing at the 2011 Parapan American Games – top 3 men's teams, and top 3 women's teams qualify for the 2012 Summer Paralympic Games.
When: Saturday, November 12 – Sunday, November 20, 2011
1. Opening Ceremonies – Nov. 12, 2011 at 7 p.m. (CST)
2. Wheelchair Basketball competition runs Nov. 13-19, 2011
3. Closing Ceremonies Nov. 20, 2011 at 7 p.m. (CST)
Where: All games will be played at the CODE Dome – CODE Alcade Sports Complex - 1360 Prolongación Alcade Avenue, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
The following athletes will represent Team Canada at the 2011 Parapan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico:
Team Canada Men:
Abdi Dini (Scarborough, ON)
Adam Lancia (Toronto, ON)
Brandon Wagner (Burlington, ON)
Chad Jassman (Calgary, AB)
Dave Durepos (Fredericton, NB)
David Eng (Montreal, QC)
Joey Johnson (Lorette, MB)
Mickael Poulin (Quebec, QC)
Pat Anderson (Fergus, ON)
Robert Hedges (Wonowon, BC)
Tyler Miller (Kitchener, ON)
Yvon Rouillard (Montreal, QC)
Head Coach: Jerry Tonello (Toronto, ON)
Team Canada Women:
Cindy Ouellet (Quebec, QC)
Chantal Benoit (Mont St. Hilaire, QC)
Elaine Allard (St. Eustache, QC)
Elisha Williams (Burnaby, BC)
Katie Harnock (Elmira, ON)
Jamey Jewells (Donkin, NS)
Janet McLachlan (Vancouver, BC)
Jessica Vliegenthart (Victoria, BC)
Kendra Ohama (Calgary, AB)
Maude Jacques (Ste-Catherine, QC)
Tara Feser (St. Albert, AB)
Tracey Ferguson (Richmond Hill, ON)
Head Coach: Bill Johnson (Winnipeg, MB)
Team Canada Men's Schedule (all times shown in CST)
1. Sunday, Nov. 13 at 3:45 p.m. vs. Columbia
2. Monday, Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. vs. El Salvador
3. Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 8:15 p.m. vs. Mexico
Team Canada Women's Schedule (all times shown in CST)
4. Sunday, Nov. 13 at 11:15 a.m. vs. Brazil
5. Monday, Nov. 14 at 3:45 p.m. vs. Argentina
6. Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 8:15 p.m. vs. El Salvador
The men's quarter-final games and women's semi-finals begin Thursday November 17, 2011.
The gold and bronze medal games begin at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday November 19, 2011 and will determine the top three teams from both the men's and women's divisions that will qualify for the 2012 Summer Paralympic Games in London, UK.
Qualifier for London 2012
The London 2012 Paralympic Games will be held Aug. 29 to Sept. 9, 2012.
Guadalajara will be a direct qualifier for the London 2012 Paralympic Games in the sports of Wheelchair Basketball and Sitting Volleyball. To earn berths in London, the Men's and Women's Wheelchair Basketball Teams must place in the top three in Guadalajara.
About the Parapan American Games
The IV Parapan American Games take place November 12-20, 2011 in Guadalajara, Mexico. The Games are a continental, multi-sport event that feature more than 1,500 athletes from 26 countries competing in 13 different sports: archery, athletics, boccia, cycling, football (5-a-side), goalball, judo, powerlifting, sitting volleyball, swimming, table tennis, wheelchair tennis and wheelchair basketball.
The Parapan American Games have been increasing insize and competitiveness since the inaugural event in Mexico City in 1999.
Wheelchair Basketball at the Parapan American Games
Sixteen national wheelchair basketball teams will play in Guadalajara for the right to compete in London 2012. The men's division features contenders Canada and the United States, as well as Brazil and host Mexico. Argentina, Columbia, El Salvador, and Guatemala are the other hopefuls on the men's side. Meanwhile, the women's division features two of the top three teams in the world in Canada and the United States, along with Argentina, Brazil, El Salvador, Guatemala, host Mexico, and Peru.
Team Canada Men at the Parapan American Games
The Canadian Men's National Team has reached the podium in each of its three appearances at the Parapan American Games since their inception in 1999. The team's medal count standsat two silver (1999, 2007) and one gold (2003) going into the 2011 edition of the Games. Thanks to their podium performances at the Parapan Ams, the Canadian Men went on to win three consecutive medals at the Paralympic Games, including back-to-back gold medals in 2000 and 2004 and asilver medal in 2008.
Team Canada Women at the Parapan American Games
The Canadian Women's National Team will also look to extend its winning tradition at the ParapanAmerican Games, having captured two gold medals (1999, 2003) and one silver (2007) in three appearances. The Canadian Women are strong candidates to qualify for London 2012 and build upon a prolific Paralympic portfolio that includes three consecutive gold medals in 1992, 1996, and 2000, as well as a bronze medal in 2004.
About Wheelchair Basketball Canada
Wheelchair Basketball Canada is the national sports governing body responsible for the organization of wheelchair basketball in Canada. It is a non-profit, charitable organization that is the Canadian member to the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF).
Wheelchair basketball is a fast-paced, hard-hitting, competitive sport that has emerged as one of the most competitive and athletic sports played at the Paralympic Games. Our senior national teams are held in high esteem around the world for the elite skill and control that placed them on the podium with a combined five gold and one silver medal in the last five Paralympic Games.
For more information, visit: www.wheelchairbasketball.ca
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For more information or to schedule an interview contact:
Jody Kingsbury, Manager
Communications & Media Relations
Wheelchair Basketball Canada
T: 613-260-1296 ext. 204
(in Guadalajara – Nov. 12-20) 011 52-331 6021 576
jkingsbury@wheelchairbasketball.ca
Courtney Pollock, Assistant
Communications & Media Relations
Wheelchair Basketball Canada
T: 613-260-1296 ext. 200
cpollock@wheelchairbasketball.ca
Alison Korn
Manager, Media Relations
Canadian Paralympic Committee
T: (in Guadalajara - Nov. 6-22): 011 52 331 6009 399
akorn@paralympic.ca
