9 November 2010
Australian Wheelchair Basketball Players Help
Raise Awareness on Disability
Australian paralympic athletes Ms Liesl Tesch and Mr Brad Ness are currently in Vientiane to help raise awareness of disability and to bring attention to UXO victim assistance in Laos.
The Australian basketball players will conduct wheelchair basketball clinics with disabled students and Lao wheelchair basketball players. They will be able to share tips on ball control, passing, shooting and wheelchair control with their Lao counterparts.
They will also play in a demonstration wheelchair basketball game which is part of an official side event to the First Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions this week.
“We are delighted to be here, sharing our skills and bringing attention to UXO Action and disability in Laos,” said Liesl Tesch.
In addition to running clinics for students with disability, Brad and Liesl will conduct training sessions with the Laos National Wheelchair Basketball Team at the stadium of the National Rehabilitation Centre. Liesl will also share her experience as a disabled athlete at a workshop to discuss victim assistance for UXO victims.
Brad Ness was the captain of the 2008 Australian men’s team that won the gold medal in the Beijing Paralympic Games. Liesl Tesch was a member of the Australian women’s team that won the bronze medal during the 2008 Paralympic Games. Both athletes have extensive experience in wheelchair basketball and are committed to raising awareness for disability issues.
The Australian aid program places an emphasis on improving the lives of people with disability in developing countries.
Media contacts: Ms Raine Dixon
Head of Development Cooperation
Australian Embassy, Vientiane
Tel: 353800
Mr Conor Fortune
Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC)
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +856 (0) 20 5457 9109