(Ottawa, March 13, 2008) The Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sport Association (CCPSA) is pleased to announce the selection of the national boccia team for the 2008-2009 season. Seven of these athletes will be competing in the 2008 Paralympic Games, in Beijing, China to be held September 6-17.
The Canadian team will be lead by double Paralympic medalists, Paul Gauthier, from Vancouver, BC, and Alison Kabush, of Surrey, BC in the BC3 division. In this division, players use ramps to throw their balls. They will be joined by Monica Martino, of Vancouver, BC. Tammy McLeod, and Adam Dukovich, of London, ON; Hanif Mawji of Burnaby, BC; and Brock Richardson of Brampton, ON, will form the BC1/BC2 Team.
National program head coach Mario Delisle is pleased with this year’s team: « I’m very happy that the selection of the team is now behind us and I’m comfortable with the athletes that were picked », said Delisle. «I am confidant that this group of athletes will be at their best for the Games and that they will work together to achieve the same goal ».
Josh Vander Vies, of London, ON and Jonathan Poulin, of Laval, QC were selected to the national team in the BC4 category but Canada did not qualify a spot in this category for the Paralympic Games.
CCPSA also named its national espoir team. David Van Hoek of London, ON, Chris Halpen of Victoria, BC, Francine Desrochers, Francois Bourbonniere and Sylvain Dupuis of Montreal, QC will form the BC1-BC2 team. Bruno Garneau of Montreal, QC, Martin Dubois of Val des monts, QC and Kevin Shaw of Ottawa, ON will be the BC3 team. Caroline Vietnieks of Vancouver, BC will be the sole competitor in the BC4 category.
The Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association (CCPSA) is an athlete focused national organization administering and governing sport opportunities targeted to athletes with CP and related disabilities. CCPSA and its provincial partners cooperate as a proactive force to facilitate the development of equitable and fair sporting opportunities for our athletes.
