Manchester Paralympic World Cup Preview

 

Event Dates: 7-11 May (Cycling 8-9 May)

Event Website: www.paralympicworldcup.com

 

Some of the world's elite athletes with a disability from swimming, track cycling, wheelchair basketball and athletics will gather in Manchester for this week's Paralympic World Cup (7th - 11th May). Now in its fourth year, the 2008 Paralympic World Cup will be the biggest yet with close to 400 athletes from 45 different countries using the event to fine tune their preparations ahead of the Paralympic Games in Beijing in September.

A strong list of GB names face stiff competition from a host of top quality international athletes, which will also include a record delegation of over 60 athletes from the Paralympic hosts, China. With an additional day of competition added in both track cycling and swimming, and record numbers taking part across all four sports, the event is sure to offer a real platform for those aiming to be successful at the Paralympic Games.

 

With the track cycling schedule remodelled to replicate the World Championships, it means record numbers will come to Manchester for two days of competition. Top GB track cyclist Anthony Kappes, a local favourite, has enjoyed success at the Paralympic World Cup before and is aiming for a repeat this week. He said:

"It is rare to get the chance to compete on home soil against such top athletes so I have been preparing for this event for a while. With the additional level of competition in the cycling competition, I would encourage anyone who hasn't experienced elite disability sport before to come along to all the venues and support Team GB."

The Paralympic World Cup is the biggest international multi sport tournament for elite athletes with a disability outside of the Paralympic Games.

 

Phil Lane, ParalympicsGB Chief Executive said:

"I am delighted to welcome all the competitors to this year's Paralympic World Cup to an extended programme of competitions across five days of elite level sport. Many of the top medal hopes for Beijing will be in action this week in Manchester and therefore the event should provide an excellent preview to the Games in September."

The Paralympic World Cup was created to provide an annual world-class multi-sport disability event and to give elite athletes more opportunity to compete with their international counterparts in between the four yearly Paralympic Games.

 

Hosted by the British Paralympic Association, it is sanctioned by the IPC and IWBF, and supported by UK Sport, Manchester City Council and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA). The BBC has again committed to cover the event as they continue to showcase elite disability sport ahead of the Paralympics.

The BBC coverage of the Paralympic World Cup will be shown on BBC2 on Sunday 11th May from 1600-1750 and will also be supported by the BBC's Disability Sport website, radio and online.

Key Info:

 

Tickets - Tickets for the Paralympic World Cup are available on the door at each venue.

Competition Schedules/Venues

 

Detailed event schedules are available on the Paralympic World Cup website. A general overview is provided below:

Wheelchair Basketball (Manchester Regional Arena):

Wednesday 7th: 09h30 - 21h30 Pool Stage matches

Thursday 8th May: 09h30 - 21h30 Pool Stage matches

Friday 9th May: 10h00 - 19h00 Semi Finals

Saturday 10th May: 10h00 - 19h00 Finals

Track Cycling (Manchester Velodrome)

Thursday 8th May: 10h00 - 17h00

Friday 9th May: 11h30 - 17h30

Swimming (Manchester Aquatics Centre)

Friday 9th May:

09h00 - 12h15: Paralympic World Cup Preliminary Session 1

16h00 - 19h00: Paralympic World Cup Preliminary Session 2

 

Saturday 10th May:

09h00 - 12h15: Paralympic World Cup Preliminary Event Session 3

16h00 - 19h00 Paralympic World Cup Televised Session

Athletics (Manchester Regional Arena)

Sunday 11th May: 14h15 - 1745