The Chairman of the London 2012 Organising committee said, "With the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games just around the corner for London in 2012, as a nation we are counting down the days with great anticipation and it is fantastic to have such a prestigious event as the BT Paralympic World Cup to be punctuating the calendar between now and then."
The ticketing plan for the Paralympic Games was revealed last week by the London 2012 Organising Committee and the public will now eagerly await the tickets to go on sale on Friday 9th September.
With the BT Paralympic World Cup only days away, some of the most recognisable names including South African 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius, British Paralympic Champion Ellie Simmonds, and Paralympic bronze medallist Simon Munn are arriving in the North West as over 200 athletes will compete in Athletics, Wheelchair Basketball, Swimming, Boccia and Sitting Volleyball.
Seb Coe continued, "The BT Paralympic World Cup has helped raise the profile of disability sports across the globe and in 2011 the event will provide an opportunity to see some of the world's best athletes before they compete in the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. Athletes will strive for success, pushing to go beyond their personal bests and compete against strong international opposition."
With the London 2012 Paralympic Games just a year away, the BT Paralympic World Cup is a crucial event in the preparation for the world's leading sport event.
In 2010 the team challenge was introduced and after its success it has been included again this year. The team challenge sees Great Britain take on teams from the Americas, Europe and the Rest of the World, with athletes competing for the overall BT Paralympic World Cup trophy, Seb Coe added, "The team concept will unite athletes, encouraging them to take an interest in other Paralympic sports adding an exciting supporting dynamic for the competitors and spectators alike.
"Last year's event proved the most successful to date with many exceptional results and with the support for this event we should expect to see even greater achievements in 2011," concluded Seb Coe.
The BT Paralympic World Cup is the largest annual international multi-sport competition in elite disability sport. BT is entering its third year as title sponsor, in a sponsorship which runs up to and includes the 2012 BT Paralympic World Cup.
Manchester has committed for the seventh consecutive year to hosting elite international athletes competing across Wheelchair Basketball, Athletics and Swimming. In addition, Boccia and Sitting Volleyball will be represented for the first time, with international matches staged during the competition.
The 2011 BT Paralympic World Cup will receive unprecedented television coverage, with Channel 4 committing to a two hour live programme on 28 May, as well daily highlights packages on 26 and 27 May. Live daily streaming from each sport will also be broadcast on the Channel 4 website:www.channel4.com/paralympics.
The BT Paralympic World Cup is sanctioned by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) and supported by ParalympicsGB, BT and Manchester City Council.
Tickets for the BT Paralympic World Cup are now on sale. For more information visit: www.btparalympicworldcup.com
The event schedule will see the Manchester Regional Arena host Wheelchair Basketball on 23-26 May and Athletics on 27 May, with the Manchester Aquatics Centre hosting the Swimming competition on 27-28 May.
The Sitting Volleyball international match will be staged at the Regional Arena on 25 May and the Boccia match on 26 May.
