Over the coming months Britain will play host to no fewer than six major international championships in Paralympic sports between now and October. 

The six major events, which begin on Sunday (June 20) with the goalball World Championships in Sheffield, have all been supported by the UK Sport Lottery Funded Major Events Programme and build on the commitment made by UK Sport in 2009 to broaden the number of Paralympic sports that are hosting major international events in this country.

July will see the World Wheelchair Basketball Championships held in Birmingham whilst Gateshead hosts the first of two Athletics Disability Challenge events, the second taking place in London in August. 

The Blind Football World Championships in Hereford also takes place in August whilst at the same time; the Cerebral Palsy International Sports & Recreation Association (CPISRA) seven-a-side European Football Championships get underway at Toryglen in Scotland. 

The sixth and final major Paralympic event on the programme takes place at the home of Paralympic sport, Stoke Mandeville, in October when the UK stages the IPC Shooting World Cup.

Simon Morton, Head of Major Events for UK Sport, said: "Many of these Paralympic championships are being staged in the UK for the very first time and are specifically aimed at providing British athletes with the opportunity to experience international competition on home soil.

"They also provide us with the opportunity to hone the skills of key officials and to train volunteers ahead of 2012, vital in our preparations ahead of the Games."

Wheelchair basketball Paralympic bronze medallist Jon Pollock (pictured) added: "I’m really looking forward to having the World Championships in the UK.

"It is a really exciting prospect for the GB men’s wheelchair basketball team playing at home in the build up to London 2012.

"I can’t wait to take on the other leading teams in the world with a home crowd advantage, it gives the team that extra boost to have the support behind us and knowing our friends and families are there watching."

Many of the events also incorporate internationally sanctioned Paralympic classification sessions which are important for athletes and yet another invaluable step on the road to London.

In addition, 2011 will hopefully see this programme extended further with other major events under discussion in disability sailing, boccia, disability table tennis, sitting volleyball, Paralympic archery, wheelchair rugby and visually impaired judo.

Tickets are still available for many of the 2010 events.

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