There are two important reasons why the 2010 National Boccia Championships are particularly significant; it is the first time they are being held in New Brunswick and it is the first time this province will showcase athletes at the Boccia Nationals. In an attempt to bring the sport into focus in the East, the National Council of the CCPSA (Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association), the sport governing body for Canadian paralympic boccia, decided to hold their annual main event in Moncton. The competition will take place at the Universite de Moncton March 1 – 3, 2010; the arrival date for the athletes is February 27 and departure, March 4. The Nationals will showcase some of the finest paralympic boccia athletes in the world. It will also play an integral part in the selection of the 2010 National and Espoir Teams. The 2010 team will compete at the World’s being hosted by Portugal. The 2009 National Team is just coming off what was probably their best America’s Cup performance to date. The America’s Regional meet which was the first of three international qualification events for the 2012 Paralympics to be held in London, England, was hosted in Montreal in October.
The National competition coincides with the introduction of a team from New Brunswick. CCPSA has partnered with the Chaleur Sport Club of Bathurst to introduce the sport to the province. Well known leader for athletes with a disability, Sylvain Comeau, has been busy introducing the sport to groups in Bathurst and Moncton and has plans to demonstrate the game in the near future in Fredericton. National boccia Head Coach Mario Delisle (Montreal) will be leading special training sessions in Bathurst and Moncton in order to better prepare the potential members of New Brunswick’s initial boccia team.
Updated rules and the National Team selection policy can be found on the website by going to “sports” and “download”. Information regarding registration for the Nationals has already been sent to provincial representatives. Those needing more information regarding the Moncton event or New Brunswick boccia can contact Sylvain Comeau at the Chaleur Sport Club or CCPSA at this website.
