The BT Paralympic World Cup, the largest international annual multi-sport competition in disability sport, begins with athletics at the Manchester Regional Arena with the likes of South African superstar Oscar Pistorius and double Beijing Paralympic gold medallist David Weir set to take to the track.

And with Britain set make up the majority of the 300 athletes competing at the event; Lane believes that his team needs to harness the support of the partisan crowd in order to gain important victories ahead of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. 

Lane said: "The BT Paralympic World Cup is a brilliant event and I know how much British athletes enjoy the chance to compete in front of a home crowd.

"It is extremely important for our athletes to test themselves against the best in the world and the event also provides a rare opportunity for athletes to compete in a multi-sport environment.

"As a result, the event is a vital part of many athletes’ preparations in the build up to the London 2012 Paralympic Games."

Johnson, a Paralympic swimming gold medallist and BT Ambassador, told insideworldparasport: "The BT Paralympic World Cup is so important as it allows us to compete against athletes that we only see at the major meets like the IPC Championships so getting the experience of competing against the best swimmers in the world is imperative ahead of London 2012."

For the first time this year, a team challenge has been introduced which sees Britain take on teams from the Americas, Europe and the Rest of the World, with athletes competing for the overall BT Paralympic World Cup trophy.



Johnson said: "I love the new format and I think that it will really help the team camaraderie and get the home crowd behind us."

The team challenge should add further excitement to the event which will be broadcast by BBC Sport.

The BBC, who have been the host broadcaster since the inception of the BT Paralympic World Cup in 2005, will broadcast a highlights package as well as live swimming action from event from the Manchester Aquatics Centre on May 31.

Dave Gordon, the head of Major Events at the BBC, said: "BBC Sport looks forward to once again bringing the BT Paralympic World Cup to the viewer and continuing to raise the profile of disability sport, something that we have a very proud tradition of doing."

The 2010 BT Paralympic World Cup however, could mark the last time that the BBC are host broadcasters of the event for the foreseeable future as Channel 4 are thought to be interested in showing the 2011 edition of the prestigious disability competition after securing the rights to show the London 2012 Paralympic Games earlier this year.

Tickets for the BT Paralympic World Cup, which are priced at £6 per session, are now on sale and can be purchased via the event website by clicking here or by calling 0844 8471622.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
May 2010: David Cameron gives support to BT Paralympic World Cup
May 2010: BT Paralympic World Cup is vital stepping stone for London 2012 says Coe
May 2010: Cassidy will be main threat at BT Paralympic World Cup predicts Weir
May 2010: GB women’s wheelchair basketball team excited by return to Paralympic World Cup
May 2010: A touch of Paris for BT Paralympic World Cup in Manchester