OTTAWA, June 30, 2011 – The Canadian Paralympic Committee is excited to take part in Canada’s 144th birthday celebrations and is pleased to announce details of its “Paralympic Showcase!” on July 1 as part of the National Capital Commission (NCC) Canada Day celebration at Major’s Hill Park, in Ottawa.

The Canadian Paralympic Committee’s Canada Day activities are designed to offer Canadians the chance to experience parasports for themselves and discover opportunities to get involved – whether as an athlete, coach or volunteer.

“Parasport is sport for people with a disability,” said Henry Storgaard, CEO of the Canadian Paralympic Committee. “Sport opportunities for people with a disability are not always well known and someone who acquires a disability may have no knowledge of parasport at all. Through events like this, we aim to raise awareness of opportunities within parasport and rally Canadians around our team.”

At the Slam Dunk URBN ZONE Paralympic Showcase from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Major’s Hill Park (in the north end of the park, across from the National Gallery of Canada), members of the public are invited to sign in at our “Get Involved” tent, receive an “accreditation” just as if you were at the Paralympic Games and then take part in sport demonstrations and activities:

• Come learn how to play sitting volleyball! The sport is played six-on-six on a smaller court with a lower net than conventional volleyball. Participants play while sitting on the grass. Help us get as many Canadians as possible involved in this game throughout the day. Everyone is invited to take part.
• Get autographs from Paralympic athletes and see their medals up close!
• Try your hand at wheelchair basketball as part of the celebration of the 120th anniversary of the invention of basketball and the 150th anniversary of Dr. James Naismith’s birth.
• Check out adapted sport equipment used by athletes with a disability. For example: an Alpine sit ski, an adapted water ski and a racing chair.
• Enter a draw for a chance to win a visit from a Paralympic athlete guest speaker or a sport demonstration at your school, workplace or rehabilitation centre.

Also on Canada Day, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and the Canadian women’s national wheelchair basketball team will participate in the “Canada Day in London” festivities in Trafalgar Square in London, England.

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.

For more information please visit www.paralympic.ca/canadaday or contact:

Alison Korn
Manager, Media Relations
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Tel: 613-569-4333 ext. 243
Cell: 613-298-4927
akorn@paralympic.ca

Mark Dottori
Director, Marketing and Communications
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Tel: 613-569-4333 ext. 242
Cell: 613-294-5961
mdottori@paralympic.ca

Web: www.paralympic.ca
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