News

Wheelchair Basketball Canada is committed to helping journalists find interesting stories and angles to report on, and is fully dedicated to helping facilitate all interview requests and media inquiries that do not interfere with athlete training and competition schedules or transportation limitations.
 

Have a Story Idea or Looking for an Interesting Angle?

If you want to report on a Wheelchair Basketball Canada athlete, coach, official, or the sport in general it’s easy. All you have to do us in contact the Wheelchair Basketball Canada Communications & Media Relations department. We would love to assist with potential stories concepts, provide background information, or put you in touch with the right person.

Contact Jody Kingsbury, Communications & Media Relations Manager, at 613-260-1296 ext. 204, or by email at jkingsbury@wheelchairbasketball.ca for more information.

Each year athletes with disabilities try out for Canada’s National Men’s and Women’s teams.  Twelve athletes are selected to each team to represent Canada and an annual training and competitive schedule is established. Each team travels to international tournaments throughout North America and around the world including invitational tournament, Qualifying Events, World Championships, and the Paralympic Games (held every four years).

Select media guides for major tournaments and events are available for [download] or by contacting the Wheelchair Basketball Canada Communications & Media Relations department.

Media accreditation for certain wheelchair basketball events can be obtained by contacting the Wheelchair Basketball Canada Communications & Media Relations department.

• Always identify the athlete and sport first, then the disability. Often it is not necessary or relevant to the report to mention the disability.
• Emphasize the ability rather than the limitation. Try to avoid using emotional words that dramatize their lifestyle.
• Portray the athletes as they are in real life. Along with being an athlete, they may also be a parent, a civil engineer, a doctor, etc.
• Act naturally at all times. The athlete will tell you if they require assistance. If in doubt, ask.

• Avoid focusing the whole story on the disability by constantly referring to it. Remember the disability is only one aspect of the athlete’s life so try to keep it in proper perspective without magnifying its importance.
• Avoid portraying an athlete who succeeds as extraordinary or superhuman.
• Avoid using terms like courage or courageous that suggest the athletes are performing a brave feat or facing a fear. These words are often misused to describe an athlete that is inspirational, determined, motivated, etc.

Jody Kingsbury
Communications & Media Relations
Wheelchair Basketball Canada
ph: 613-260-1296 ext. 204
fx: 613-260-1456
jkingsbury@wheelchairbasketball.ca