Wheelchair Basketball Canada – (June 8, 2017 – TORONTO, ONT.) Canadian fans will witness the best in the world under the age of 23 in wheelchair basketball as the next generation of Paralympic stars at the Men’s U23 World Wheelchair Basketball Championship from June 8-16, 2017 in Toronto. Live coverage of these championships will be made possible through a partnership between the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Wheelchair Basketball Canada.

Live and on demand coverage of all of Team Canada preliminary round games and all playoff games will be available online at Facebook Live (CDNParalympics) and CBCsports.ca. All 42 games will also be streamed live via the Wheelchair Basketball Canada Facebook page (WheelchairBasketball) and online at www.2017u23wwbc.com.

World-class athletes representing 12 nations, including host Canada, will converge at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in downtown Toronto to showcase the elite skill and athleticism that make wheelchair basketball a thrilling spectator sport and one of the most popular sports for athletes with a disability in the world.

Team Canada is in pursuit of a return to the top of the podium, having won back-to-back gold medals at the world championship for junior men in 1997 and 2001. Most recently, Canada placed sixth at the last world championship for junior men in 2013.

The event returns to Toronto in time to mark the 20-year anniversary since Canada hosted and won the inaugural world championship for junior men in Toronto in 1997.

Twelve nations will compete at the event with Canada hosting Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Great Britain, Iran, Italy, Japan, South Africa, Turkey and the United States.

Team Canada’s preliminary round schedule is as follows:

Thursday, June 8 – 12 p.m. (ET) ITA vs. CAN
Friday, June 9 – 6 p.m. (ET) CAN vs. AUS
Saturday, June 10 – 6 p.m. (ET) CAN vs. IRI
Sunday, June 11 – 3 p.m. (ET) TUR vs. CAN
Monday, June 12 – 6 p.m. (ET) CAN vs. BRA

Tickets to the event are on sale online and through the Mattamy Athletic Centre box office.

For more information visit: www.2017u23wwbc.com / #2017u23wwbc

About the Event

Wheelchair Basketball Canada is pleased to host the top junior male wheelchair basketball players on the planet from June 8-16, 2017 for the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) Men’s U23 World Wheelchair Basketball Championship.

World-class athletes representing 12 nations, including host Canada, will converge at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in downtown Toronto to showcase the elite skill and athleticism that make wheelchair basketball a thrilling spectator sport and one of the most popular sports for athletes with a disability in the world. Over 400 athletes, coaches, officials, delegates, and volunteers will attend the event.

Team Canada is in pursuit of a return to the top of the podium, having won back-to-back gold medals at the world championship for junior men in 1997 and 2001. Most recently, Canada placed sixth at the last world championship for junior men in 2013.

About the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF)

The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) is the international governing body responsible for wheelchair basketball. It is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide opportunities for persons with a disability to play the game of wheelchair basketball. For more information, please visit www.iwbf.org.

About Wheelchair Basketball Canada

Wheelchair Basketball Canada is the national sport governing body responsible for the organization of the sport in Canada. It is a non-profit, charitable organization that is committed to excellence in the development, support and promotion of wheelchair basketball programs and services for all Canadians from grassroots to high performance. Wheelchair basketball is a fast-paced, hard-hitting, competitive sport in which Canada is held in high esteem around the world for winning a combined six gold, one silver, and one bronze medal in the last seven Paralympic Games. For more information, please visit www.wheelchairbasketball.ca.

Wheelchair Basketball Canada is hosting the 2017 Men’s U23 World Wheelchair Basketball Championship. It marks the organization’s fifth opportunity to host a landmark international wheelchair basketball championship, having previously hosted the Women’s World Championship in 2014, the Men’s World Championship in 1994, the inaugural Men’s U23 World Championship in 1997, and the first-ever Women’s U25 World Championship in 2011.

Media Contacts:

Lindsay Crone, Coordinator Communications
Wheelchair Basketball Canada
T: 613-260-1296 ext. 205
Cell: 613-724-0792
lcrone@wheelchairbasketball.ca

Courtney Pollock, Manager
Marketing and Communications
Wheelchair Basketball Canada
T: 613-260-1296 ext. 203
Cell: 613-291-6721
cpollock@wheelchairbasketball.ca