PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS
![Collage of five athlete images](/sites/default/files/images/161104145444919_AOTM%2BOctober.jpg)
Vote now for the Allianz Athlete of the Month – October 2016
The public has until 11 November to vote for their favourite among the five candidates.
![Matti Suur-Hamari took the victory in the men's SB-LL2 snowboard-cross race at the La Molina 2015 IPC Para-Snowboard World Championships](/sites/default/files/images/150226160710203_150224_LAMOLINA_IPC_2015_SUUR__1.jpg)
Suur-Hamari eager to get snowboard season underway
The returning World Cup champion in both banked slalom and snowboard-cross, the Fin is excited for the World Championships.
![German ski jumper Severin Freund looks forward to Finsterau 2017](/sites/default/files/styles/video_crop_16_9/public/oembed_thumbnails/WUWmWJ_LvEcnNb8t4M6mXm34nJ-2tYWc6BNnrZ1_iS8.jpg?itok=5iPi7GF9)
Freund sends good luck to athletes for Finsterau 2017
The German ski jump champion, a native of the region hosting the World Para Nordic Skiing Championships, made a video to celebrate 100 days to go.
![Richard Whitehead of Great Britain](/sites/default/files/images/161103074408958_GettyImages-603002828.jpg)
British Athletics names athletes for Paralympic World Class Performance Programme
A total of 23 athletes have been selected for the Paralympic Podium programme and a further 24 selected for the Paralympic Podium Potential programme.
![Tatyana McFadden of the United States crosses the finish line to win the women's push rim wheelchair race during the 120th Boston Marathon in Boston, Massachusetts.](/sites/default/files/images/160419084534628_Tatyana%2BMcFadden%2Bof%2Bthe%2BUnited%2BStates.jpg)
McFadden targets fourth successive marathon Grand Slam
The US wheelchair racer can secure the inaugural Abbott World Marathon and US 50,000 dollars with victory in New York on Sunday.
![Aileen Neilson competes at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.](/sites/default/files/images/140625150139154_SOC_20140315_LP_1240_WEB.jpg)
Teams set for World Wheelchair-B Curling
Only two of the 16 teams will advance to the World Championship 2017.
![Brazil's first national Paralympic training Centre](/sites/default/files/images/131119091441084_43%2BBrazil%2Btraining%2Bcentre%2BCREDIT%2BNPC%2BBrazil_0.jpg)
Entries open for Paralympic University Games
The event will take place at the Paralympic Training Centre in Sao Paulo, between 8-10 December.
![Aurelie Rivard - Rio 2016](/sites/default/files/images/160914010529314_GettyImages-604529110.jpg)
Canadian Para athletes honoured by their Government
Olympic and Paralympic athletes and coaches who competed at Rio 2016 were welcomed into the House of Commons by the members of the Parliament.
![Lorenzo Perez Escalona](/sites/default/files/images/160530095346211_Lorenzo%2BPerez%2BEscalona2.jpg)
Perez Escalona seeks to win maiden world title
Cuba’s first swimming Paralympic gold medallist is hoping to top the podium at the 2017 World Para swimming Championships in Mexico City.
![Judokas, Carmen Brussig and Li Liqing competing for the gold medal in Rio de Janeiro.](/sites/default/files/images/160911130544636_Carmen%2BBrussig%2Band%2BLi%2BLiqing.jpg)
Li Liqing reflects on Rio 2016 gold medal
China’s judoka won her maiden Paralympic title last September following a win over Germany’s defending champion Carmen Brussig.