Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association: Who are we?

OWSA

Who are we?

Mission Statement

The Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association is dedicated to the development and promotion of athlete centred, amateur wheelchair sport programs.

History

The first Olympic competition for wheelchair athletes was held in 1952. Every four years since then the Paralympics are held in the country hosting the able-bodied Olympics. Each year the World Wheelchair Games are staged at Stoke Mandeville in England (the birthplace of wheelchair sport), with the exception of the Olympic year. PanAm Games are also held every 4 years to provide competition for the South and North Americas. Exhibition men’s 1500m and women’s 800m track events have been included in the able-bodied Summer Olympic Games since 1984 and in the Commonwealth Games since 1990. There is now a strong lobby group advocating inclusion and full medal status for wheelchair athletes in the Olympics.

Canada’s involvement dates to 1967 when the first PanAm Wheelchair events were hosted in Winnipeg, Manitoba and the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association was formed.

In 1972 the Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association (OWSA) was established to coordinate workshops, clinics, seminars, competitions, public awareness demonstrations and special events to promote wheelchair sports throughout the Province. The OWSA is also responsible for setting policy, qualifying standards, enforcing rules, sanctioning events, handling protests and other related matters to ensure that all competitions are run fairly.

Staff

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Michael Suraci, Executive Director

- Email: msuraci@ontwheelchairsports.org

- Telephone: (416) 426-7189

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Cortney Benedict, Bridging the Gap Program Coordinator

- Email: btg @ontwheelchairsports.org

- Telephone: (416) 426-7131