Canadian Paralympic Committee congratulates Peter Eriksson and Ahmed El-Awadi on new leadership roles

OTTAWA, July 10, 2013 /CNW/ - The Canadian Paralympic Committee is pleased today to congratulate both Peter Eriksson and Ahmed El-Awadi on their new leadership roles with Athletics Canada and Swimming Canada respectively.

Athletics Canada, the national governing body for track and field, cross country, road running and road racing, officially announced today the hiring of Peter Eriksson as Olympic and Paralympic Head Coach.

"We are very excited to see Peter return to Canada," said Gaétan Tardif, President of the Canadian Paralympic Committee. "We are confident Peter's appointment will represent a significant step forward in ensuring Athletics Canada continues to build on their strong record of podium success at the Paralympic Games. Congratulations to Peter and Athletics Canada."

Ahmed El-Awadi will become the new CEO of Swimming Canada after five strong years at the helm of Water Polo Canada.

"We would like to congratulate Swimming Canada in hiring Ahmed El-Awadi as the organization's new CEO," said Tardif. "Ahmed brings great leadership and a strong track record within aquatic sports. His passion for swimming and strong management skills will drive the organization to world leading results.

"The Canadian Paralympic Committee looks forward to continuing to work closely with both national sport organizations in preparation for the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games in Toronto and the 2016 Paralympic Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil."

About the Canadian Paralympic Committee

The Canadian Paralympic Committee is a non-profit, private organization with 46 member sports organizations dedicated to strengthening the Paralympic Movement. The Canadian Paralympic Committee's vision is to be the world's leading Paralympic nation. Its mission is to lead the development of a sustainable Paralympic sport system in Canada to enable athletes to reach the podium at the Paralympic Games. By supporting Canadian Paralympic athletes and promoting their success, the Canadian Paralympic Committee inspires all Canadians with a disability to get involved in sport through programs delivered by its member organizations. For more information, visit www.paralympic.ca

SOURCE: Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC)