Ottawa, Ontario chosen as host city for basketball championships
By Dylan Cumming
The announcement was met with elation from the wheelchair basketball community, after Canada lost their bid to host the 2022 World Championships to the United Arab Emirates.
The GB Women’s team are current World and European silver medallists. Ayr-native Robyn Love is the only Scottish member who hopes her team can go one step further in 2026.
Love said: “When a tournament is announced it is an exciting occasion. With the Ottawa 2026 announcement the excitement was elevated as Canada has a history of hosting incredible tournaments – like the 2014 Women’s World Championships which was a record-breaking tournament for us, as we finished 5th. By 2026 the only viable option for us is to ensure we are crowned World Champions.”
28 teams will compete in the competition, with a total of 16 men’s teams and 12 teams on the women’s side.
The event is a precursor to the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
Current World Champion, Great Britain’s Gaz Choudhry elaborated on how the announcement has provided some positive reinforcement for everyone in the game.
He said: “The announcement of the Ottawa 2026 World Championships couldn’t have come at a better time. With 2020 being such a tough year for everyone, let alone the uncertainty within our sport after the postponement of the Tokyo Paralympics, it’s great news. It gives the GB team a long-term focus on our way to LA 2028.”
Zonal qualifiers will be held across four regions – Africa, the Americas, Asia Oceania, and Europe – prior to the tournament to determine who will join Canada in Ottawa.
Multiple venues across the city will host a total of 94 games from 26 August to 5 September.
Speaking at the official press conference, Wheelchair Basketball Canada President, Steve Bach believes Ottawa 2026 will “be a spectacle to behold.”
He continued: “We will host an unparalleled, world-class event, whilst creating meaningful legacies. There is much work to do in the years ahead, and we are eager to undertake this journey with all of you.”
