PRESS RELEASE / FILMING & PHOTO OPPORTUNITY 25^th – 31^st May 2010
Event: BT Paralympics World Cup
Location: City of Manchester Stadium, running track  

For immediate release 

Manchester school children test Paralympics training equipment of the future

From 25th to 31st May pupils from Manchester schools will be given the exclusive opportunity to road test futuristic fitness equipment which may soon be used to train top Olympians.

Young people from all over the city have been invited to attend the annual BT Paralympic World Cup taking place at Manchester Stadium. As part of their visit the youngsters will be able to try out high tech WebRacing™ equipment and Amada Sport machines which may soon be used by Olympians and Paralympians as part of their training.

These specialised machines (a bike, rower and Nordic skier) allow the user to view themselves as an avatar taking part in some of the most famous races the world has to offer with cheering crowds and lifelike scenery for ultimate authenticity.   This is all made possible via an internet connection and clever virtual reality technology.

It is likely that in the future such sophisticated technology will become part of the training programme followed by the country’s top Olympians.  Duncan Lawson, MD of Instyle Fitness who developed WebRacing™ explains more,

“WebRacing™ combines a challenging physical workout with gaming, providing the athlete with a totally interactive experience to increases motivation and perseverance.  As the athlete is kept mentally engaged in the training, they are likely to achieve a more effective workout and improved muscle tone than with a less inspiring training session.

“It’s a real honour for us at the WebRacing™ team to be invited to the BT Paralympic World Cup 2010” continues Duncan.  “It is our ambition that WebRacing™ will be integrated into athletes’ training programmes as soon as 2012 to help them prepare the GB team for the London Olympics.”

In the meantime, however, it will be the children of Manchester who will have access to this revolutionary equipment to get a taste of what it would be like to compete in the Olympic and Paralympic Games.  No doubt the experience will inspire some to become GB’s sporting stars of the future.

View the Nordic ski machine in action here: http://www.instylefitness.co.uk/-simultrainer-crosstrainer.html or Amada Sport at http://www.amadasport.com/en/pages/01/index.shtml.

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Notes to editor: If you would like to attend the BT Paralympic World Cup between 25^th and 31^st May to view the children testing WebRacing™ and Amada Sport or even try out the equipment yourself, please reply to this email or call 07780 645446.