International Paralympic Day will feature an all-day, interactive sports showcase, including wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, soccer, table tennis, long jump and biathlon. More than 80 athletes from the U.S., China, Germany, UK, Spain, Bosnia, France and Switzerland will come to perform in Berlin, including track and field star Casey Tibbs (Chula Vista, Calif.), the German Sitting Volleyball National Team and the Chinese Women’s Wheelchair Basketball National Team among others.  

"I feel very privileged that the IPC has selected me to represent the USA at the International Paralympic Day. I am so excited and honored for this event that I’m leaving my wife and one week old son, Taylor Tibbs, for four days just to be a part of the festivities,” said Casey. “IPD is an event that can help get my blood flowing in preparation for Beijing in 2008."

Olympic Gold Medalist figure skater Katharina Witt, Grand Duchess of Luxemburg, IPC President Sir Philip Craven and Berlin Lord Mayor Klaus Wowereit are among the VIPs set to host the festivities.

“IPD 2007 will give Berliners a first hand, up-close and interactive experience of top-level Paralympic Sport and a chance to get in touch with some of the world’s best Paralympic athletes,” said German Swimmer Kirsten Bruhn, Paralympic gold medalist and world record holder.

In addition to experiencing Paralympic sports live, there will be the chance to meet the athletes and see what opportunities exist for people with disabilities.

Organized and hosted by the International Paralympic Committee, the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement, IPD 2007 will be supported by IPC’s World Wide Partners (Otto Bock and Samsung), IPC’s Gold Patrons (Deutsche Telekom AG and Allianz SE) as well as Deutsche Bahn, Volkswagen, the German National Paralympic Committee, the German Ministry of the Interior, the Berlin Tagesspiegel and RBB.