Josh Vander Vies Named to London 2012 Paralympic Team -

The hard work so far has paid off; I will be competing at the Paralympics this summer in London. Thank you to everyone who has made me getting this far possible. There are too many to name here, but I have lots of preparation ahead of me and am grateful for your support. Official press release below:

OTTAWA – The Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) and the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association (CCPSA) are pleased to announce the athletes nominated to Canada’s Boccia team for the London 2012 Paralympic Games set for August 29 to September 9.

This is the first team to be officially nominated for the Games to the CPC. Boccia is a sport that is strategically similar to lawn bowls and is practiced in more than 50 countries.

The nine-member squad features Paul Gauthier of Vancouver, headed to his fifth Games and looking to regain the Paralympic gold he won in 2004 in the BC3 disability class.

Also on the team are Monica Martino and Josh Vander Vies, also from Vancouver; Marco Dispaltro of St-Jérôme, Que., Dave Richer of Ste-Julie, Que., Bruno Garneau of Montreal; Adam Dukovich and Tammy McCleod of London, Ont., and Brock Richardson of Brampton, Ont.

“This group is composed of athletes with leadership and experience along with a couple of “Paralympic newbies” bringing energy to the team,” said Mario Delisle of Montreal, head coach of Canada’s National Boccia team.

”The final selection of this team was difficult and the coaching staff is pleased to work with these athletes. At the end we definitely believe we have what we need to create the synergy to be at our best in London.”

At the Guadalajara 2011 Parapan American Games last November, Gauthier and Dukovich took gold, Dispaltro silver while Vander Vies and Richer added bronze. Vander Vies feels Canada is a medal contender at the Paralympics as well.

“I am very proud to be a member of this Paralympic Boccia team,” he said. ”This team worked incredibly hard to qualify for London 2012 as a country against the top athletes in the world for the last four years. With enough hard work in the coming weeks and months, this team has a real chance to be on the podium in London”.

The CPC expects to bring about 150 athletes to the London 2012 Paralympic Games with an objective to finish among the top-eight nations in the gold medal count among the 163 participating countries.

About the Canadian Paralympic Committee
The Canadian Paralympic Committee is a non-profit, private organization with 46 member sports organizations dedicated to strengthening the Paralympic movement. The Canadian Paralympic Committee’s vision is to be the world’s leading Paralympic nation. Its mission is to lead the development of a sustainable Paralympic sport system in Canada to enable athletes to reach the podium at the Paralympic Games. By supporting Canadian Paralympic athletes and promoting their success, the Canadian Paralympic Committee inspires all Canadians with a disability to get involved in sport through programs delivered by its member organizations. For more information, visit www.paralympic.ca.

About the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association
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.

Boccia athletes nominated to the Canadian Paralympic Team for the 2012 Paralympic Games in London August (name, category, hometown and residence):

Marco Dispaltro BC4 Montreal St-Jérôme, Que.
Adam Dukovich BC2 Oakville, Ont. London, Ont.
Bruno Garneau BC3 Dolbeau, Que. Montreal
Paul Gauthier BC3 Vancouver Vancouver
Monica Martino BC3 Vancouver Vancouver
Tammy McLeod BC2 Strathroy, Ont. London, Ont.
Brock Richardson BC1 Brampton, Ont. Brampton, Ont.
Dave Richer BC2 Montreal Ste-Julie, Que.
Josh Vander Vies BC4 Sarnia, Ont. Vancouver
Staff: Head coach: Mario Delisle, Montreal,Media attache: Marie-Hélène Cayer, Ottawa