By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

August 29 - Brazil's Paralympic team, which is expected to include double gold medallist Andre Brasil (pictured), have chosen to base themselves in Manchester before London 2012 Games, it has been announced.



The news, which coincides with the two-year countdown to the Games, follows the announcement that the Swimming Australia will use the state-of the-art facilities at Manchester Aquatics Centre to prepare for the Olympics.

The announcement from Brazil is a particular coup for Manchester, as the team is hoping to put in a convincing medal-winning performance at London 2012 before they host the tournament themselves in 2016.

Chris Holmes, London 2012 Director of Paralympic Integration, said: "The Brazil National Paralympic Committee is clearly well advanced with its plans with the agreement today to train the team in Manchester’s superb facilities prior to competition. 

"Whether it’s buying a ticket, becoming a volunteer, being part of our education or culture programmes - there are hundreds of ways to get involved in the London 2012 Games and I look forward to hearing more about the community involvement plans surrounding the Brazilian NPC’s stay in Manchester."

Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council’s Executive member for culture and leisure said: "Manchester is ahead of the field when it comes to attracting teams to the city to train for the Olympics and Paralympics in two years.

"With sports bodies such as British Cycling, England Squash, England Federation of Disability Sports and England Athletics northwest all based here, we have a strong international presence within the sporting arena and our exceptional facilities are world-renowned.

"By attracting high profile teams into Manchester we are only strengthening our position as a world-class sporting city."

Beijing 2008 was the Brazilian Paralympic team’s most successful display to date with 47 medals, including 16 gold, placing ninth in the overall medals table.

Swimmers Daniel Dias (pictured) and Brasil were the leading medalists with five gold, four silver and one bronze medal between them, while Ricardo Alves formed part of Brazil’s gold medal-winning blind football team.

The Brazilian Paralympic team’s training camp will take place over nine days in August 2012, with around 170 athletes and 80 staff making use of facilities at Sportcity including the athletics track, gym, national squash centre and national tennis centre.

Sheldon Phillips, Head of Regional Major Events at the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) said: "Brazil is one of the largest Paralympic teams to compete at London 2012, so to have the team training here in Manchester is very prestigious. England’s Northwest has seen major success so far when it comes to attracting world-class teams to train in our outstanding facilities ahead of the Games.

"This latest agreement not only helps to build on this success, but is testament to the Northwest’s strong reputation for championing, developing and showcasing Paralympic sport.”

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