Canada’s nine-strong team which includes Paul Gauthier, from Vancouver, who is looking to regain the Paralympic gold he won in 2004, and Adam Dukovich, who scooped gold at the 2011 ParaPanamerican Games, is holding its training at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre to prepare for the 2012 Games.

Boccia is played on a rectangular court and, similar to boules, athletes aim to land balls close to a target. It is specially designed for athletes with a severe degree of physical disability.

Mario Delisle, head coach of the Canadian Boccia team, said: “Upon invitation from the city I visited Sheffield last year when I was in England with the Canadian Paralympic Committee.

“After visiting Ponds Forge and the hotel I knew that it would be a good place for my team to be before going to the big show.”

Ponds Forge has also recently welcomed the Vietnamese Paralympic swimming team, who are using the venue’s Olympic-sized pool for their pre-Games training before heading to London to compete at the Aquatics Centre.

via Paralympic boccia and swimming teams train in Sheffield – Sheffield – Local News – Postcode Gazette.