University to host wheelchair basketball event

In their first international series since the Paralympic Game, the Head to Head series presented by Standard Life will see GB take on the Netherlands five times at the University between Thursday 18 April and Saturday 20 April 2013 with all games being free for spectators.

The Standard Life GB Women will be looking to avenge their opening game of London where they suffered defeat at the hands of The Netherlands, 62-35. The series will be the start of their international season in preparation for this year’s European Championship in July.

This will be the first international wheelchair basketball tournament in Britain since the Paralympics and an opportunity to showcase one of the major sporting events of the Games. For those who were captivated by wheelchair basketball it will also present the chance to get closer to the action.

Mike Chamberlain, Director of Sport at the University of Wolverhampton, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be hosting this tournament and we encourage people to come along to see for themselves what inspired so many of us during the London 2012 Paralympic competition. The University has a long-standing relationship with the sport and sees it as a key development focus for sport in coming years.”

Standard Life GB women’s, Helen Turner said, "Playing against the Dutch is always a great challenge and this series will give us the opportunity to compete against one of the best teams in the world. It will be a good test for the team and allow us to see where we are in terms of competition since the London Paralympics.

“I'm excited that we are able to play at home grounds and hope that the public will continue to show their enthusiasm and support for the game and for the GB women's team as they did last summer."

The game schedule is as follows:

Thursday 18 April

GB women v The Netherlands – tip off 6.30pm

Friday 19 April

The Netherlands v GB women – tip off 10.30am

GB women v The Netherlands – tip off 8pm

Saturday 20 April

The Netherlands v GB women – tip off 10.30am

GB women v The Netherlands – tip off 8pm

ENDS

For more information please contact the Media Relations Office on 01902 322736

Date Issued: Wednesday 3 April 2013