Gaétan Tardif, President of the Canadian Paralympic Committee, was joined at the launch by Richard Deschamps, member of the City of Montreal Executive Committee, Jane D. Blaine, chairperson of the IPC's Swimming technical Committee, and a number of athletes due to take part in the Championships.

The event, being staged at the Parc Jean-Drapeau, will be the largest gathering of international swimming athletes since London 2012.

"The majority of swimmers who lit up TV screens around the world last summer winning medals and smashing world records will be here in Montreal," said Blaine

"In fact, a record 56 countries will be sending around 500 swimmers to this event to compete in 170 medal events over seven days of competition."

This will be the first time a major IPC swimming event will be staged in North America and Blaine says that it will showcase Paralympic sport to the Canadian public ahead of the 2015 Toronto Parapan Am Games and also helps with the athletes' build up and preparation for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio.

"IPC Swimming continues to grow," she added.

"We know that Montreal, which has a proud and rich history in staging major events, will deliver a top class elite sporting event for world class athletes.

"No matter what the impairment, be under no illusions that what you witness here next month is elite sport at its very best with some great rivalries playing out between the swimmers."


Canadian swimmer Aurélie Rivard will be one of the athletes due to compete for medals at the Championships next month, after qualifying by winning the 400 metres freestyle at the Can Am Para-Swimming Championships in April.

The London 2012 silver medallist is excited to be taking part in such a high quality event in front of home support.

"I believe that having these World Championships in Montreal is an incredible opportunity for local athletes, especially for the new generation of athletes," she said.

"This is a golden opportunity to see the best athletes in the world compete in a world-class competition, as can be seen at the Paralympic Games.

"This is a highly enriching, inspiring and motivating experience."

Rivard, 16, was part of a very successful Canadian swimming squad at London 2012 which delivered 16 out of Canada's 31 Paralympic medals overall.

Tardif is confident that Montreal will prove a successful host of the fifth IPC World Swimming Championships.

"We are looking forward with great anticipation to the City of Montreal hosting the IPC World Swimming Championships next month," he said.

"This will be the first ever Para-swimming world championship held in North America and I know the event will be world-class and that racing will be extremely exciting.

"Best of luck to both competitors and organisers in this final stretch of preparations."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]  


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