Regional News

If given the go ahead, the 2012 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships B Tournament, involving more than 150 competitors from around the world, will be held at the Planet Ice SkyDome in the city. The sport, similar to ice hockey, involves players who sit in adapted sledges, propelling themselves with sticks. Many of the star British players are former or current military members and have found the sport key to their rehabilitation after being injured in active service.

The Championships will help launch the city's overall events programme for 2012 in the lead up to the Paralympics, and will enable the city to showcase a Paralympic event in the city. The British Ice Sledge Hockey Association has committed to establishing a Coventry team during the event as an on-going legacy benefit for the city.

The event will be mainly funded by the IPC, Planet Ice and the British Sledge Hockey Association, but support for the event has also come from Coventry City Council, which has agreed to find one-off funding of up to £25,000 to help cover some of the tournament's costs.

Cllr George Duggins, Deputy Leader of the Council said: "Ice Sledge Hockey has quickly made a name for itself at the Paralympic Winter Games, attracting a large number of spectators to a fast-paced, highly physical sport and is definitely one of the most popular Winter sports at the Paralympic programme.

"It's great that this sport is coming to the city as part of our exciting events programme for next year, and I think Coventry people will give the competitors a characteristically warm welcome when they're here in the city.

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