CANADIANS PROMINENT IN 2013 INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPIC SPORT AWARD SHORTLISTS

OTTAWA, September 4, 2013 – Canadians are prominent in the 2013 Paralympic Sport Award shortlists released today by the International Paralympic Committee, recognizing achievements at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Canadians made the shortlists in three categories – best male athlete, best team and best official.

Best male athlete: Patrick Anderson (Fergus, Ont.) spearheaded Canada to wheelchair basketball gold by posting career best numbers and finishing as the tournament’s top scorer.

Best team: Canada’s Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team claimed their third gold in the last four Paralympic Games by beating Australia 64-58 in the final.

Best official: Through the International Cycling Union (UCI) and London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), Louis Barbeau (Repentigny, Que.), Director General of the Fédération québécoise des sports cyclistes (FQSC), was responsible for the London 2012 cycling course, which proved to be a challenging and fantastic event.

“Patrick Anderson, Louis Barbeau and the Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team are champions on and off the field of play and an inspiration to all Canadians,” said Gaétan Tardif, President of the Canadian Paralympic Committee.

“The Canadian Paralympic Committee is extremely proud to see their accomplishments recognized internationally and we congratulate them on their commitment to excellence, leadership and the years of hard work invested in these performances.”

Winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony in Athens, Greece on Nov. 23, coinciding with the International Paralympic Committee’s General Assembly and Conference.

The winners will be selected by a judging panel which includes the IPC Governing Board, IPC Athletes’ Council, IPC Management team and sponsor Allianz.

Previous winners of the awards, which take place in the years following a summer and winter Paralympic Games, include legendary Canadian wheelchair racer Chantal Petitclerc.

The Paralympic Sport Awards have been given out every two years since 2005, and Canada has taken home the most honours, winning five different awards.

For more information, please visit  www.paralympic.org/TheIPC/HWA/ParalympicSportAwards