Four of the worlds best Paralympic teams to train in Antrim

The Sports Minister and Disability Sports NI today announced that four Paralympic teams will be training and competing in an International Wheelchair Basketball Challenge in Antrim
~ Thursday, 26 January 2012

80 athletes from Italy, Poland, Great Britain and Turkey will compete in the pre-Paralympic Games training event from the 6th-9th February at the Antrim Forum.

Encouraging the public to view the event and get involved, Sports Minister Carál Ní Chuilín said: “We are hosting four of the best wheelchair basketball teams in the world, all of whom have qualified for the 2012 Paralympics.

“This training camp comes on the back of successful badminton, boccia and table-tennis pre-games events which not only bring elite athletes to the North but also generates much needed economic benefits.

“This event demonstrates strongly that we have the facilities and expertise to be part of the Olympic and Paralympic dream.”

Sentiments echoed by the Chair of Sport Northern Ireland, Dominic Walsh, “In addition to attracting international teams to train in Northern Ireland, Disability Sports NI is running a schools competition on the 8th and 9th February with local children of all abilities experiencing wheelchair basketball and meeting the elite athletes.”

“It’s testament to the superb partnership approach between Government Departments, governing bodies of sport and local Councils that Northern Ireland has a tremendous calendar of activity in the run-up to the Games”

Mayor of Antrim, Councillor Paul Michael added, “We are delighted that Antrim Forum has been chosen to host this prestigious event, particularly as this is home to the Knights Wheelchair Basketball Team and the Irish Paralympics Pre Games Training Camp in June.”

Local teams such as the Knights, Northwest Eagles and Fermanagh Lakers will benefit greatly from the Paralympic challenge when they take part in a coaching session during the course of the tournament with the international teams. It’s an excellent opportunity to showcase the world-class facilities available at Antrim Forum.”

As the Antrim Forum prepared for the international pre-Games event, pupils from Ballycraigy Primary School in Antrim enjoyed a special training session with Belfast Knights athletes, Johnny McCarthy and Jason Kennedy.

Malcolm Tarkenter, Chair of the British Wheelchair Basketball Association says the International Challenge in Antrim will raise the profile of the sport and our athletes, “The GB squad has two team members from Northern Ireland, Matthew Rollston from Rathfriland and Paul McKillop from Belfast. Training events like this in the build up to the Olympics and Paralympics show young people the passion of sport and a chance to watch their own local heroes in action against the best in the World.”

Director of Disability Sports Northern Ireland, Kevin O’Neill said, “The word legacy can be over-used but this International Wheelchair Basketball Challenge demonstrates exactly that. Showcasing our terrific facilities; providing many opportunities to increase participation in sport and welcoming international visitors to the Province. Many teams prefer to train behind closed doors but this is a free fun event for the whole family to enjoy and I encourage everyone to come along to the Antrim Forum to cheer on our own elite athletes and the best in the world when they are here, right on our doorstep.”

More information on match times can be found on http://www.dsni.co.uk or by contacting Disability Sports NI on 028 90387062 or email@dsni.co.uk

Notes to editors:

1. Teams and officials arrive on Monday 6th February and commence training with competitive matches on Tuesday 7th which also sees local players in a training session with the international coaches at 7.30pm.
2. Wednesday 8th matches in the morning are followed by the semi-finals at 4.45pm and 7pm respectively.
3. Thursday 9th starts at 9.30am with the 3rd place play-off and the big final match at noon followed by presentations and closing ceremony at 2pm.
4. For further information please contact Joan Grenville on 07808138525 or joan@grenvilleni.com
5. Disability Sports NI is Northern Ireland’s main disability sports organisation representing the vast majority of disability sports groups and clubs. The organisation works to provide people with disabilities in Northern Ireland with the same opportunities as non-disabled people to participate fully in sport and physical recreation. Disability Sports NI annually runs programmes and events, which benefit thousands of disabled adults and children with physical, sensory and learning disability.