By Tom Degun

October 19 - The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics World Championships in Christchurch, which are due to take place next January, have received a major funding boost with the announcement that a local charity will support the event.


Pub Charity, a charitable trust with over 20 years' history of fundraising for various organisations in New Zealand, has approved just under NZ$800,000 (£385,000) to be set aside for both the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships and Paralympics New Zealand.

Established in 1987, Pub Charity has raised more than NZ$350 million (£168million) in donations for a wide range of community organisations including community groups, sports clubs and organisations, cultural groups, emergency services, youth and education and health.

Fiona Pickering, chief executive of Paralympics New Zealand and chair of the Local Organising Committee for the event, said: "This support will significantly escalate the development of Paralympic Sport within New Zealand.

"New Zealanders are great supporters of Paralympic Sport and more and more people are taking a greater interest in athletes with a disability's achievements.

"Yet we still face challenges in achieving an equitable level with their able-bodied counterparts.

"Pub Charity's commitment to support the further development of Paralympic Sport within New Zealand through to the London 2012 Paralympic Games is to be applauded.

"This is a charitable trust with a focus on supporting communities all over New Zealand.

"With one in five people in New Zealand having some form of disability we will work together to showcase this world championship event to inspire all New Zealand communities."

There are now just under 100 days to go until the championships begin on January 21 with more than 1,000 athletes from over 70 countries set to compete over nine days.

The event in Christchurch - the last major gathering of international athletes before the London 2012 Games - will feature a host of the world's top Paralympic stars, including South Africa's Oscar Pistorius, Ireland's Jason Smyth and Brazil's Terezinha Guilhermino.

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