The International Wheelchair Rugby Federation has awarded the 2020 IWRF Paralympic Qualification Tournament to Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. The event will be held at the Richmond Olympic Oval from March 2 to 9, 2020.

Eight countries will participate in the Qualification Tournament to determine which will qualify for the last two positions in the wheelchair rugby competition at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. The Tokyo 2020 wheelchair rugby competitions will take place from August 26 to 30, 2020.

Bids to host the tournament were received from Canada, France (Paris) and Germany (Bad Vilbel), with Canada and France proceeding to the final selection phase.

“My congratulations to Canada on an excellent presentation and bid package. They have a good reputation for delivering quality wheelchair rugby events. Recognition should also go to France for putting in a strong application and I encourage them to consider more bids, especially as we are already looking at the Paralympics in Paris in 2024,” said IWRF President, Richard Allcroft. “Good luck to all teams competing in next year’s qualification tournament; I know the remaining two slots for Tokyo 2020 will be fiercely competed for.”

Laurel Crosby, President of Wheelchair Rugby Canada and BC Wheelchair Sports, said “We are honored to be selected as hosts for the 2020 IWRF Paralympic Qualification Tournament. We are excited to welcome teams to a world-class wheelchair rugby venue in the Richmond Olympic Oval and know that it’s going to be an exciting and spirited competition.”

Canada will be joined by five teams selected from the 2019 IWRF Zone Championship and two countries from the IWRF World Ranking List, including Brazil, Colombia, France, Germany, Korea, Sweden, and Thailand. The top two finishers will compete alongside Australia, Denmark, Great Britain, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States in Tokyo.

Entry forms have been distributed to the eight teams selected for this event. The deadline for entry fee deposits and first entry forms is December 15; if any of the eight teams selected declines to participate or fails to submit the deposit and first entry, their position will be reallocated to the next highest-ranked country not already selected or qualified from the same Zone Championship, or if there is no other country not selected or qualified from the same Zone Championship to the next highest-ranked country not already selected or qualified from the World Ranking List at November 1, 2019.

About the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation: iwrf.com

About Wheelchair Rugby Canada: WheelchairRugby.ca

About BC Wheelchair Sports Association: bcwheelchairsports.com

MEDIA CONTACTS

Ben Parker-Jones
Communications and Marketing Coordinator
Wheelchair Rugby Canada
ben@wheelchairrugby.ca or 613-523-0004

Nathan Bragg
Communications Coordinator
BC Wheelchair Sports Associaiton
communications@bcwheelchairsports.com or 604-333-3520 Ext. 203