The Principality Stadium in Cardiff is ready to host the 2023 Wheelchair Rugby European Championship from May 3 to May 7.

The event will showcase the best wheelchair rugby players from around Europe, including the Paralympic gold medallists from Great Britain in what will be a huge opportunity to showcase para sport in Wales.

The stadium will be transformed into an arena to create an exciting atmosphere for this high-impact, full-contact Paralympic sport.

Jim Roberts, a Welshman and former GB International in the sport, said: “We are building a stadium within a stadium and the court will be centralised with the players’ tunnel, which will bring the feeling of being in the stadium to life. Around that we are going to build wheelchair accessibility viewing areas to reflect the sport and the audience we want to attract.’’

The tournament provides the top eight teams in Europe with the chance to compete for qualification spots for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and the title of European Champion, and will be broadcast live by Channel Four.

With the event aligning itself to the City4All project, which aims to transform Cardiff into a city inclusive for all, it is hoped that the event will provide a legacy long after the day has passed.

Sport has a unique ability to transcend across different cultures, backgrounds and even social barriers. Para sport has the ability to reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with disability and can transform community attitudes.

The tournament will culminate in the grand finale on Sunday, May 7, when two Welsh teams will go head-to-head in the first-ever wheelchair rugby Judgement Day.

Event Director, Chris Walker, commented: “It’s a really exciting time for wheelchair rugby at the moment, with the Paris Paralympics coming up. The event marks a huge opportunity for the sport to branch out and reach a new audience and showcase what is great about wheelchair rugby.

“More broadly, it’s a huge opportunity for paralympic and disability sport in general to show the opportunities there are and to see that para sport is thriving. What better venue or platform can we ask for than the Principality Stadium to do so.

“We recently saw how successful the wheelchair Rugby League World Cup was; the support and the engagement within that tournament alongside the able-bodied tournament was fantastic to see.

“There’s a real competition, and those top two places for Paralympic qualification will be really hard fought between at least three if not four teams.

“The WRU have been pushing all aspects of the game and doing a fantastic job. They are promoting the Principality Stadium as a stadium for all, highlighting that they can host more competitions like this in Cardiff, which would be great for sports like ours.”

“The whole event is an opportunity to grow the game and to showcase the best of wheelchair rugby. It’s a privilege to be hosting this event at such an iconic venue,” said Walker.

“We are hoping that both young people and adults with disabilities see these kinds of events and realise what is possible for them.”

Grab your tickets now at wreuro23.com