Bucks to host Para-Badminton World Championships

The Para-Badminton World Championships are coming home next month when 250 of the world’s best para-badminton stars arrive in Buckinghamshire.

The BWF Para-Badminton World Championships 2015 will be held in Stoke Mandeville Stadium, the birthplace of theParalympic Movement, from September 10-13 to determine the world champions in the para-badminton classifications.

It will be the first time in its history that the championships have been held in England and comes after it was confirmed last year that para-badminton would be making its debut at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

As part of rehabilitation treatment for injured World War II veterans, Stoke Mandeville Hospital organised a sporting competition known as the Stoke Mandeville Games.

The 9th Annual International Stoke Mandeville Games, held in Italy in 1960 – were recognised as the first Paralympic Games.

Stoke Mandeville is also the National Centre for Disability Sport in the UK and the home of WheelPower, the national disability sports organisation for wheelchair sport.

Adrian Christy, Chief Executive of Badminton England, said: “We are thrilled to be hosting the prestigious BWF Para-Badminton World Championships in England next month, and in the birthplace of para-sports competitions.

“It’s particularly timely after the landmark decision last October to confirm para-badminton as a Paralympic sport at Tokyo 2020 and we cannot wait to welcome all the best players in the world to England.”

Martin McElhatton, Chief Executive of WheelPower, owners of Stoke Mandeville Stadium, added: “We are thrilled to be welcoming the BWF Para-Badminton World Championships 2015 to Stoke Mandeville and providing a fantastic setting for the top para-badminton players in the world to showcase their talents.

“Stoke Mandeville has a long history of staging international sporting events and the para-badminton family will receive a warm welcome from our experienced team and everyone in the local Aylesbury Vale and Buckinghamshire communities.”

The BWF Para-Badminton World Championships has previously been hosted five times in Europe – Netherlands in 1998, Germany in 2000, Spain in 2001, Wales in 2003 and Germany in 2013.

Tickets for the championships will be available on the door for each day of the competition and cost £2 each.

For more information go to badmintonengland.co.uk/Para

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