Pictured above: Deloitte volunteers prepare for the
World Wheelchair Basketball Championships
Business advisory firm Deloitte has signed up to support this
year's World Wheelchair Basketball Championships, in
Birmingham.
The event, which starts today and runs until 17 July at the
National Indoor Arena, has been organised by the Great Britain
Wheelchair Basketball Association (GBWBA) and Birmingham City
Council, with support from Advantage West Midlands.
The tournament will see 12 men's and ten women's teams compete
in the biggest and most important wheelchair basketball event
before the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Volunteers from Deloitte's Birmingham office will be involved
throughout the championships in a variety of roles. Staff
will also be along to support the teams at the opening ceremony and
at their matches.
Chris Loughran, Midlands practice senior partner at Deloitte,
said the firm was keen to support the event as it was an integral
part of Deloitte's national Disability Sport Programme.
He said: "Through the Deloitte Disability Sport programme, which
is the largest of its kind in the UK, our aim is to provide support
for disability sport to drive participation and performance and to
secure more podium finishes at future Paralympic Games.
"As part of the programme, Deloitte people across the country
have been generously giving their time to take part in various
charity events and sporting challenges to help raise awareness and
money for ParalympicsGB.
"Our involvement with the World Wheelchair Basketball
Championships supports this aim and provides our people with an
opportunity to take part in what is a fantastic event for
disability sport and the city of Birmingham."
Dennis Hodgkins, West Midlands regional development manager for
the English Federation of Disability Sport, said: "We are extremely
grateful to businesses such as Deloitte, which has pledged its
support to disability sport and helping disabled athletes compete
at the highest level.
"The World Wheelchair Basketball Championships is the last major
event before the 2012 Paralympic Games, with teams from across the
globe descending upon Birmingham to take part. Having local
volunteers on hand to provide assistance to the organisers and
teams will be a massive help and will ensure the event runs as
smoothly as possible."