Story
The 2008 National Wheelchair Basketball Championships for Men and Women received $10,000 from HostingBC. The event was held in BC to recognize the 25th anniversary of the BC Wheelchair Basketball Society (BCWBS). The event drew 106 athletes, aged 18-50, who came from six provinces to compete in front of 2,000 spectators. Seventy-one volunteers supported the event at Pinetree Community Centre. Both the BC men's and women's teams were crowned national champions for the first time ever in front of hometown fans, providing inspiration to young and developing wheelchair athletes. Direct economic and tourism benefits included 270 hotel room nights booked and increased revenue for accessible local tourism and hospitality businesses. The event provided full-time employment for a coordinator; and volunteers improved skills to national levels to form an experienced resource pool for future major events. Event legacies include upgrading 10 wheelchairs for sport use; equipment purchased for the event will be available to local and regional event organizers; and BCWBS will produce a national championships hosting manual available for use by other provinces and clubs.
