Canada will compete in Mexico at the Guadalajara 2011 Parapan American Games from Nov. 12 to 20, 2011.
The Canadian team includes 121 athletes, 11 guides and 73 officials for a total of 207 members. Canada’s Chef de Mission is Rob Needham (CPC’s Executive Director, Sport) and Assistant Chef de Mission is Jennifer Larson (CPC’s Director of Sport).
Canada will compete in 11 of the 13 sports in Guadalajara: Archery, Athletics, Boccia, Cycling, Goalball, Judo, Sitting Volleyball (men’s team), Swimming, Table tennis, Wheelchair Basketball (men and women’s teams) and Wheelchair Tennis. Canada will not be entering athletes in Soccer (5-a-side) and Powerlifting. All sports at the Parapan American Games are also contested at the Paralympic Games.
Approximately 1,500 athletes from 25 countries will be attending the Guadalajara Parapan American Games. According to organizers, Brazil has the largest delegation with 387 personnel, followed by Mexico with 307, the United States with 295, Venezuala with 252 and Colombia with 233. Of the 13 sports that make up the Parapan American Games, Athletics will have the largest number of competitors with 412 athletes, followed by Swimming with 204 and Wheelchair Basketball with 186 competitors. The Parapan American Games have been increasing in size and competitiveness since the inaugural event in Mexico City in 1999.
Canada’s Historical Performances
At the 2007 Parapan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Canada finished with a total of 112 medals: 49 gold, 37 silver and 26 bronze. The result placed Canada second in the country standings behind host Brazil. Canadian flagbearers in Rio were Jen Krempien (Wheelchair Basketball), for the Opening Ceremony and Benoit Huot (Swimming) – for the Closing Ceremony. Krempien led her team in earning a qualification slot for Beijing 2008, while Huot swam his way to three gold and four silver medals. In the process, he broke the world record in the 200m individual medley and the Parapanamerican Games record in the 100m backstroke. In Mar del Plata in 2003, Canada placed fifth overall with 23 medals (13 bronze, seven silver, three gold). In Mexico City in 1999, Canada placed ninth overall with 10 medals (four bronze, three silver, three gold).
Performance Goal
The Canadian team will not establish a performance goal in terms of medals for the Guadalajara 2011 Parapan American Games. These Games are a building block towards future Paralympic Games success and as such, Team Canada includes a mix of veteran athletes and teams with previous Paralympic experience and medals; along with some younger, development-level athletes looking to compete in their first international multi-sport Games. For some team sports, Guadalajara serves as a direct London qualifier – including Wheelchair Basketball and Sitting Volleyball.
These sports are sending their most experienced athletes. Other sports will include a mix of athletes, some of whom are fine-tuning their preparations for London 2012, while Canada’s next generation of future Paralympic champions are gaining their first international multi-sports Games experience, building towards the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games and the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. The Parapan American Games represent a crucial stage in the athlete development pathway, providing invaluable international multi-sport Games experience. All Canadian athletes will be representing their country proudly in Guadalajara.
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. The men’s Sitting Volleyball team must achieve a gold medal finish in Guadalajara in order to qualify for London. For individual sports, Guadalajara is one of multiple international competitions at which athletes can qualify leading up to the London Games.
International and Domestic Development of Parasport
The Canadian Paralympic Committee is committed to the development of parasport both domestically and internationally. Competitions like the 2011 Parapan American Games are an invaluable occasion to build awareness and opportunities for athletes with a disability. Physical activity plays a critical role in the overall health and independence of people with a disability.
The Canadian Paralympic Committee has launched a new online portal with information on how Canadians can get involved in parasport, whether as a coach, athlete, guide, official, volunteer or as a parent, teacher or healthcare provider.
To learn more, please visit www.paralympic.ca/getinvolved.
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