Wheelchair Basketball Canada is pleased to host the top junior male wheelchair basketball players on the planet from June 8-16, 2017 for the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) Men’s U23 World Wheelchair Basketball Championship.
World-class athletes representing 12 nations, including host Canada, will converge at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in downtown Toronto to showcase the elite skill and athleticism that make wheelchair basketball a thrilling spectator sport and one of the most popular sports for athletes with a disability in the world.
About the Event
- International tournament featuring over 400 athletes, coaches, officials, delegates, and volunteers;
- 42 games over eight days of competition at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in downtown Toronto;
- Legacy projects include the Futures Program, a mentorship initiative for young athletes, the Schools Program, which fosters awareness and inclusion within schools and the greater Toronto community, and development and educational workshops for coaches and technical officials.
The 2017 Men’s U23 World Championship marks the 20-year anniversary since Canada hosted the inaugural world championship for junior men in 1997 in Toronto. The event is the latest addition to Wheelchair Basketball Canada’s rich history of hosting major international competitions, which includes the world championship for women in 2014, the first-ever world championship for junior women in 2011, and the men’s world championship in 1994.
Team Canada won back-to-back gold medals at the world championship for junior men in 1997 and 2001. Most recently, Canada placed sixth at the last world championship for junior men in 2013.
Event Hosting Goals
- Build on the success of hosting the 2014 Women’s World Championship and the momentum created by the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games;
- Raise the profile and general public awareness of the abilities of athletes with a disability and to demonstrate the inclusive nature of wheelchair basketball;
- Serve as an awareness vehicle for the recruitment of athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and fans;
- Develop successful partnerships with community groups, sponsors and organizations which contribute to the overall success of the event;
- Develop legacies that support the ongoing development of the game domestically and internationally, which align with Wheelchair Basketball Canada’s long term hosting plan;
- Deliver a well-organized, world-class event excelling in technical aspects and hospitality;
- Operate the event in a self-sufficient and financially responsible manner;
- Share the beauty, cultural diversity, and accessibility of the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.