Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius has today confirmed he will compete at the BT Paralympic World Cup in Manchester, after recovering from a boating accident in South Africa.
The BT Ambassador has made a brave recovery after sustaining facial injuries in an accident on the Vaal River, south of Johannesburg on 21 February.
Oscar, known as the "Blade Runner", won the T44 100m, 200m and 400m in Beijing and will compete in the 100m and 400m at the Manchester Regional Arena on Sunday 24 May and says he is delighted to be back in UK.
"I am recovering very well from the accident. Better than anticipated. If everything keeps on going at this rate and with His will on my side, I will be at full strength at the BT Paralympic World Cup. This competition is vital in my preparation and it gives me that vital indication as to where I am lying in my season and my ranking amongst other top athletes." said the 22-year-old.
BT Group Marketing and Brand Director Suzi Williams said, "Oscar's courage and determination are truly inspirational. We are delighted that he's getting back to full strength and we are looking forward to welcoming him to Manchester to compete at the BT Paralympic World Cup in May."
Having been cleared by the Court of Arbitration for Sport last year to compete in IAAF able-bodied events, Oscar narrowly missed qualifying for the Olympic Games but won three gold medals in Beijing to add to his 400m title in Athens in 2004.
The BT Paralympic World Cup is the first major multi-sport elite disability event to be staged since the Beijing Paralympic Games and major international stars and a strong British contingent are expected.
The competition will be staged in Manchester from 20-25 May, with over 400 competitors from over 31 countries scheduled to compete.
Athletes will compete in four sports at world class competition venues in Manchester: wheelchair basketball and athletics hosted at the Manchester Regional Arena, swimming at the Manchester Aquatics Centre and track cycling at the Manchester Velodrome.
Tickets for the BT Paralympic World Cup are now on sale and can be purchased via the event website: www.btparalympicworldcup.com or the ParalympicsGB website: www.paralympics.org.uk or by calling 0844 8471622. Tickets cost £3 per session.
BT is the title sponsor of the Paralympic World Cup; the sponsorship runs up to and includes the 2012 BT Paralympic World Cup.
The official 2009 stakeholders of the BT Paralympic World Cup are the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), Manchester City Council and UK Sport.
The BBC, the official televised partner to the event, will broadcast live from the Manchester Aquatics Centre on Monday 25 May 2009 on BBC Television.
Around The Rings, 17th March 2009
No comments:
Post a Comment