International Paralympic Day Returns to Berlin

International Paralympic Day 2009 (IPD) will take place in Berlin on 11 July. It will be held at the Brandenburg Gate. A crowd of more than 40,000 attended the event in 2007.

Said IPC President Sir Philip Craven: "The International Paralympic Day 2009 presents a unique opportunity to experience exciting Paralympic sports and inspiring Paralympic athletes at their best."

Athletes will come from all over the world to perform in Berlin. So far, the following athletes have confirmed their attendance: for Wheelchair Basketball, the German Women's National Team and the Dutch Women's National Team; for Table Tennis Paralympic Gold Medalist Holger Nikelis, and for Biathlon Paralympic Gold Medalist Verena Bentele. World-class athletes Casey Tibbs (USA), Paralympic medalist in Beijing 2008, and Urs Kolly, Paralympic Champion in Athens 2004, will also be present and compete in the main event of the day, the Long Jump competition.

The audience, especially children, will have an opportunity to try out some of the sports themselves like Wheelchair Basketball or the Biathlon shooting range.