ParalympicsGB today received nominations from UK Athletics for thirty-five athletes for the British team at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.
Wales look set to be represented in Beijing by an eight-strong contingent – an increase on the delegation sent to Athens in 2004.
Visually impaired athlete Tracey Hinton of Cardiff was one of the first British athletes to compete in the infamous Bird’s Nest stadium at the Beijing Open Test event last month. Hinton – along with her guide runner Steffan Hughes – is due to compe in her fifth Paralympic Games, aiming to add to her collection of six medals.
Disability Sport Wales Talent Academy Manager, Gerwyn Owen, explained: “Wales makes up around 25% of the GB athletes put forward by UK Athletics. It’s testament to the talent and commitment of Welsh athletes to strive to be the best not just in the UK but the world. It carries on the tradition of great Welsh names being involved in the Paralympic Games, based on previous successes of Tanni Grey-Thompson, Chris Hallam and Lloyd Upsdell.
“Half of the contingent are first-time Paralympians which shows the depth of talent and that the structure within Wales for disability sport, nurtured by the Talent Academy, is working and ensuring successes not just for Beijing, but for London 2012 and beyond.”
The potential debutantes in Beijing are - Brian Alldis who is based in Bury St Edmunds and is coached by Tanni Grey Thompson,Cardiffamputee sprinter John McFall, Nathan Stephens of Bridgend and 16-year-old Rebecca Chin of Deeside. The rising star from North Wales looks set to be Wales’ youngest Paralympian in Beijing.
The Disability Sport Wales Talent Academy was launched in October 2004 and it aims to assist emerging sportsmen and women. It aims to provide them with every opportunity to achieve their full potential.
Gerwyn Owen adds, “As the youngest Welsh athlete named, it is particularly pleasing to see 16-year-old Rebecca Chin named as the first Academy athlete who looks set to break onto a ParalympicsGB team.”
UK Athletics Director of Disability,Tim Jones said:
“We are pleased to be able to nominate such a strong team for Beijing, which is a real blend of both youth and experience. Over half of the nominated team are set to make their debut at the Paralympic Games, in particular eight of the 14 female athletes. As we look beyond Beijing, the ability to nurture athletes who will be able to perform in London is of paramount importance. Having the ability to expose some of these athletes in Beijing will provide them with a fantastic learning experience.
“UK Athletics set some tough qualifying standards to ensure a high quality team, and it is testament to the determination and talent of our athletes that these were achieved and exceeded.
“It is important that a large majority of the travelling team is capable of winning medals, and we are confident that this will be the case in Beijing. We all know that the Paralympics will be the real test, but we believe the ParalympicsGB athletics team is exceptionally well prepared for the challenge ahead.”
ParalympicsGB Chief Executive and Chef De Mission for Beijing,Phil Lane, said: “With the tough qualification standards set by UK Athletics it is fantastic to see so many talented youngsters among this nominated squad for Beijing, who will no doubt be exciting prospects in London in 2012.
“I am also delighted that there are so many Paralympic and world championship medallists among this squad, which puts us in good stead ahead of this summer’s Games.”
The Welsh contingent nominated to ParalympicsGB comprises:
Men
Brian Alldis (St Edmunds Pacers) T54 800m, 1500m, 5000m, Marathon
Lives: Bury St Edmunds
John McFall (Unattached) T42 100m,
Lives: Cardiff
Nathan Stephens (FDSW) F57 Shot, Discus, Javelin
Lives: Bridgend
Women
Rebecca Chin (FDSW / Deeside AC) F44 Shot, Discus
Lives: Deganwy, North Wales
Tracey Hinton (and guide runner Steffan Hughes) (Cardiff AAC/ British Blind Sport) T11 100m, 200m, 400m
Lives: Cardiff
Beverley Jones (West Cheshire AC) F37 Shot, Discus
Lives: Deeside
Claire Williams (Carmarthen Harriers) F12 Discus
Lives: Loughborough
Another place to be confirmed pending fitness testing and competitive results over the weekend.
The Paralympic classification for athletics is as follows;
F is for Field athlete
T is for Track athlete
The number refers to the functional classification:
T/F 11-13 Visual Impairment
T/F 31-38 Cerebral Palsy
T/F 41-46 Amputees and Les Autres
T51-54 Wheelchair Racers
T51-58 Seated Field athletes
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For further information from Disability Sport Wales, please contact Jane Williams on 029 2033 8274 or email jane.williams@scw.org.uk
For more information from UK Athletics or to request an interview please contactHannah Hore, Team Media Officer for the Paralympics on 0121 713 8401 or 07917 424 566 or e-mail hhore@ukathletics.org.uk
For further information about ParalympicsGB, please contact Sian Davies in the Press Office on 0207 211 5240 or 07721 892686 or by email at sian.davies@paralympics.org.uk. For news updates visit the BPA website at www.paralympics.org.uk
