5th September 2014

EARLY BRAGGING RIGHTS UP FOR GRABS AT WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL SESSION 1

5 September 2014 – The competition schedule for the Invictus Games, released today, reveals Britain and Australia will do battle in the first session of Wheelchair Basketball, offering an early chance for bragging rights as one of sports oldest rivalries continues at the international event for ‘wounded warriors’.

Spectators with a ticket to Session 1 of the Wheelchair Basketball, with ‘tip-off’ at 09.00am on Saturday 13 September, will see the two nations go head-to-head in the Copper Box Arena on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It is just one of six matches fans can look forward to in the morning session; others see USA vs. Denmark; Germany vs. Italy; France vs. New Zealand; Denmark vs. Italy and USA vs. Germany.

Someone excited by the clash is British Army veteran Adam Nixon, a former Gunner in 26 Regiment Royal Artillery. The 30-year-old from Hereford lost his left leg in an explosion in Iraq which also badly damaged his right leg and ultimately left him wheelchair bound. Wheelchair Basketball played a key role in his journey of recovery giving him a renewed ‘zest for life’ post-injury. Today he was announced as Wheelchair Basketball Team Captain for the British Armed Forces team.

“We’re allies on the battlefield but adversaries in sport,” Nixon says. “The banter has already started among the guys; the competition between us is always good natured but ferociously fought. They’re expecting lots of expat support in London but my guys are banking on our home support being louder!”

Wheelchair Basketball was first played in the United States, when American soldiers injured during World War II met on a court at a rehabilitation hospital and adapted the running game to continue their enjoyment in sport. It is one of nine adaptive sports to feature at the Invictus Games, where wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women will show their fighting spirit in an event that focuses on what they can achieve, post-injury.

Invictus Games organisers today revealed that more tickets have been released owing to high demand. Fans with seats for Session 2 of the Wheelchair Basketball, beginning 13.30pm the same day, have the added bonus of seeing the British Armed Forces team contest two matches. Nixon will lead his players out for the remaining Pool ties against France and New Zealand as they continue their quest for Gold. Again the session features six 15-minute matches, with Australia taking on their other rivals New Zealand before facing France. The other matches are Denmark vs. Germany and USA vs. Italy. The action culminates in Session 3 at 18.00pm with the Semi-Finals followed by the longer 10-minute-each-way Bronze medal play-off and Final.

Wheelchair Basketball retains most major rules of conventional basketball. The court’s dimensions, height of the hoop (10-ft) and scoring are the same, making for high-scoring action. Each team of five players may hold the ball for 24-seconds during which they must throw it towards the hoop. Every two touches on the wheelchair, players need to bounce, pass or shoot the ball. The sport was played at the first Paralympic Games, in 1960 in Rome, and is one of the few to have been present at all editions. Today it is the most played adaptive sport in the world.

The Invictus Games are being organised with the support and backing of The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry and the Ministry of Defence. Launched by Prince Harry, the event will use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect of those who serve their country. They will feature over 400 wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women, serving and veteran, from 13 nations that have served alongside each other. They will compete in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the Lee Valley Athletics Centre thanks to the Mayor of London Boris Johnson, the London Legacy Development Corporation, the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, DCMS and Sport England.

Tickets cost £12.85 and are on sale at www.invictusgames.org