Wheelchair basketball program a first for WAIS

The Western Australian Institute of Sport has announced its first specialist Paralympic program.
  • WAIS announces its first ever specialist Paralympic program
  • Elite wheelchair basketballers have a new home
  • Athletes training with a view to next year's World Championships 

The Western Australian Institute of Sport has announced its first specialist Paralympic program.

The WAIS Wheelchair Basketball Program will call the WAIS High Performance Service Centre, in Mount Claremont, home from December 1, 2017.

The WAIS Wheelchair Basketball Program will make an immediate impact for athletes, with many members of the inaugural training squad in strong contention to represent either the Australian Rollers (men's) or Australian Gliders (women's) at next year's World Championships in Hamburg.

Australia recently qualified for both championships at the Asian/Oceania Qualifiers in China. Shaun Norris and Kim Robins represented the men's team while Amber Merritt, Clare Nott, Sarah Vinci and Georgia Inglis were all members of the women's squad.

The WAIS Wheelchair Basketball Program is a partnership with Basketball WA and Basketball Australia.

The WAIS High Performance Service Centre, opened in 2015, is entirely wheelchair accessible, meaning all program athletes will have access to the complete range of high performance services on offer within the centre, which includes state-of-the-art facilities in strength and conditioning, sports science and recovery.

WAIS works with more than 200 athletes across 11 dedicated sporting programs including cycling, swimming, track and field, hockey and kayaking as well as a host of individual athletes from sports outside of WAIS.

Comments attributed to Sport and Recreation Minister Mick Murray:

"This program is the first of its kind for Paralympic sport in Western Australia and will provide excellent support to these elite athletes.

"Wheelchair basketball athletes who dream of wearing the green and gold at the highest level can now have the confidence they have the support of a dedicated program.

"Western Australia has a proud history in wheelchair basketball, with recent WAIS scholarship talent boasting Paralympic medallists such as Brad Ness, Justin Eveson, Shaun Norris, Michael Hartnett, Clare Nott, Amber Merritt and Sarah Vinci."

Minister's office - 6552 6400