Ottawa – May 4, 2011 – On Friday, May 13, media are invited to Carleton University to meet and interview some of Canada’s top medal potential athletes and leaders who are preparing for the Guadalajara 2011 Parapan American Games, the London 2012 Paralympic Games and beyond.

The media day is the final day of the Canadian Paralympic Committee’s 2011 Paralympic Excellence Series (May 10 to 13), the first of its kind to be held for Canadian Paralympians, Paralympic hopefuls, coaches and support staff and the largest gathering of Canadian Paralympians and Paralympic hopefuls outside of competition. The event includes 50 of Canada’s top athletes with a disability and will take place at Carleton University in Ottawa.

The Excellence Series is designed to provide practical skills and leading-edge strategies to potential Canadian Paralympic team members in their quest for podium performances. Workshop topics include rebounding from adversity, winning strategies, sports psychology and dealing with stress, with the final day featuring an opportunity for media to interact with athletes directly.

Media Availability

• What: Canadian Paralympic Committee and athletes - Media Availability
• Who: Paralympic medallists, Paralympic athletes and hopefuls (complete list below), Henry Storgaard, CEO and Secretary General, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Elisabeth Walker-Young, London 2012 Assistant Chef de Mission, and Rob Needham, Executive Director, Sport, Canadian Paralympic Committee
• When: Friday, May 13, 2011
  12:15 - 13:30 - Interview opportunities with athletes and CPC leadership, lunch will be provided to media and additional media availability early morning or afternoon, upon request
  14:45 - 15:00 - Closing remarks delivered by Henry Storgaard, CEO and Secretary General, Canadian Paralympic Committee. Media welcome
• Where: Ravens’ Nest, Alumni Hall, Carleton University, Ottawa (P5 parking)

Please contact Alison Korn at akorn@paralympic.ca or 613-569-4333 ext. 243 to confirm your presence and to pre-book interviews with specific individuals.

About the 2011 Paralympic Excellence Series

The primary goal of the 2011 Paralympic Excellence Series is to provide practical skills and strategies to potential Canadian Paralympic team members in their quest for podium performances. The secondary objective is to inspire and motivate athletes, coaches and team leaders, leaving everyone with greater sense of confidence and drive in their quest for the podium. To achieve these objectives, potential medalists gather together with a high-profile group of guest speakers for four days of inspiration, motivation and team building. The agenda includes workshops and seminars to help ready Paralympic hopefuls for the intense atmosphere of a Paralympic Games. Athlete, coach and specialist attendance to the Excellence Series is by invitation only. The Canadian Paralympic Committee works with national sport organizations to compile a list of invitees for the Excellence Series, including Paralympic athletes, Paralympic coaches, sport leaders and technical directors, integrated support team leaders and sport communication managers.

About London 2012 and Guadalajara 2011

The Guadalajara 2011 Parapan American Games will be held in Guadalajara, Mexico, from November 19 to 27, while the London 2012 Paralympic Games will be in London, England from Aug. 29 to Sept. 9, 2012. The Guadalajara 2011 Parapan American Games will serve as a qualifier for the London 2012 Paralympic Games for a majority of sports. The London 2012 Paralympic Games will be the biggest Paralympics ever, with 20 sports involving participants from 163 competing nations. England has a strong history in Paralympic sport. In 1948, Dr. Ludwig Guttmann organised a wheelchair archery competition at Stoke Mandeville hospital for World War II soldiers with spinal cord injuries, in what would become the precursor to the modern Paralympic Movement. In preparing for the 2012 Paralympics, London has been praised for venue readiness and accessibility. The Canadian Paralympic Team is aiming to finish in the top-eight nations in London based on gold medal count. The number of Canadian Paralympic athletes attending the Games will not be confirmed until the summer of 2012, as athletes achieve the required qualification standards.

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.

Athletes Available for Interviews at the Canadian Paralympic Committee`s 2011 Paralympic Excellence Series 
 

* Paralympic Games medallist
# World Champion

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Alison Korn
Manager, Media Relations
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Tel: 613-569-4222 ext. 243
Cell: 613-298-4927
akorn@paralympic.ca

Marie-Hélène Cayer
Senior Coordinator, Marketing and Communication
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Tel: 613-569-4333 x 227
Cell: 613-293-3358
mcayer@paralympic.ca

Web: Paralympic.ca
Facebook: Facebook.com/CDNParalympics
Twitter: @CDNParalympics #PES2011
YouTube: YouTube.com/CDNParalympics