16 March 2010

Early Bird half-price tickets went on sale yesterday, 15 March, for the 2010 BT Paralympic World Cup. The tickets are exclusively available for just two weeks before going on sale to the general public on 29 March.

These tickets are available by signing up to the newsletter via the event website: www.btparalympicworldcup.com.

One of the world’s most recognisable Paralympic athletes, Oscar Pistorius, has confirmed he will compete in this year’s event.

Fresh from setting a season’s best time of 46.82 seconds over 400m in Pretoria, the South African Paralympic champion has now set his sights on racing in the T44 100m and 400m in Manchester on Tuesday 25 May. 

Pistorius is looking to have a strong season and lower his personal best of 46.25 seconds as he strives towards competing in both the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The four-time Paralympic champion, known as the ‘Blade Runner’, will be back in the UK to defend his 100m and 400m titles.

“I’m delighted to be competing in this year’s BT Paralympic World Cup,” he said.

“The event comes at a key time in my season and I will be looking to set fast times in the 100m and 400m. The London Paralympic Games are just two years away now and to have major international competition in the UK is crucial in my preparations as I look to defend my Paralympic titles and also compete in the Olympic Games.

The BT Paralympic World Cup is the world’s largest annual multi-sport elite disability event and major international stars and a strong British contingent are expected.

The competition will be staged in Manchester from 25-31 May, with over 400 competitors from over 31 countries scheduled to compete.

For the first time this year, a team challenge has been introduced which sees Great Britain take on teams from the Americas, Europe and the Rest of the World, with athletes competing for the overall BT Paralympic World Cup trophy.

The BBC, the official televised partner to the event, will broadcast live from the Manchester Aquatics Centre on Monday 31 May 2010 on BBC Television.

The event schedule will see Athletics take place on 25 May.