CBC begins live streaming the 2018 World Wheelchair Basketball Championships today through Aug. 26, from Hamburg, Germany.
Canada historically has been a world leader in wheelchair basketball, with three Paralympic gold medals for both its men’s (Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, and London 2012) and women’s (Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, and Sydney 2000) teams. The Canadian women are also the defending world champions, claiming the title on home soil in Toronto back in 2014. Canada will be represented in Hamburg by 24 athletes, including 15 Paralympians.
The Canadian men are one of 16 teams vying for the title and will play in Pool A alongside Morocco, Iran, and Germany.
The women are among 12 nations competing for the championship and are in Pool A with Spain, Great Britain, Brazil, Australia, and Netherlands.
All of Canada’s games from the world championships will be livestreamed on cbcsports.ca, via the CBC Sports app, the CBC TV app and cbc.ca/watch, as well as the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Wheelchair Basketball Canada’s Facebook pages.
“The World Wheelchair Basketball Championships is one of the biggest events in parasport outside of the Paralympic Games and we are excited to be working alongside our partner CBC/Radio-Canada to broadcast it across the country,” Martin Richard, executive director, Communications and Brand, Canadian Paralympic Committee, stated in a press release. “One of our priorities is bringing the feats of our athletes to Canadians in between Games, and we encourage all Canadians to support these phenomenal competitors. Our wheelchair basketball teams have always been top performers, and we look forward to watching them play in Germany.”
Canada’s Preliminary Round Schedule
MEN:
Friday, Aug. 17: Canada vs. Morocco, 5:45 a.m. ET
Sunday, Aug. 19: Canada vs. Germany, 12 p.m. ET
Monday, Aug. 20: Canada vs. Iran, 5:45 a.m. ET
WOMEN:
Friday, Aug. 17: Canada vs. Great Britain, 8 a.m. ET
Saturday, Aug. 18: Canada vs. Spain, 6:15 a.m. ET
Sunday, Aug. 19: Canada vs. Australia, 11:30 a.m. ET
Tuesday, Aug. 21: Canada vs. Netherlands, 12:30 p.m. ET
Wednesday, Aug. 22: Canada vs. Brazil, 4 a.m. ET