Close to 400 athletes from 45 different countries will be in Manchester from 7th - 11th May with the event serving as one of the last chances for competitors to fine tune their Paralympic preparations.

A strong contingent of 78 British competitors was today confirmed to take part, amongst them some top medal hopefuls for Beijing – wheelchair racer David Weir, cyclist Jody Cundy, sprinter Ian Jones and top women’s racer, Shelly Woods.

Woods, who will attempt to win another London marathon in a few days, said of the World Cup, “It is a crucial competition for me and all the other GB athletes who have ambitions of performing well at the Paralympics later this year. It is also the last major event before Beijing and for that reason is very important to see how I am shaping up in terms of training.”

The 2008 Paralympic World Cup will once again showcase athletics, swimming, track cycling and wheelchair basketball at three of the city’s world class competition venues, building upon the legacy of the 2002 Commonwealth Games. The event is one of the biggest multi-sport competitions for elite athletes with a disability outside the Paralympic Games.

Click here to visit the Paralympic World Cup web site.