STAFF from Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce have been trying their hand at wheelchair basketball at the University of Worcester Arena.

They ventured down to the home of the British Basketball League champions Worcester Wolves to meet a number of the men’s GB team, who will be competing in the European Championships at the arena next summer, together with Charlie Bethel, chief executive of British Wheelchair Basketball, who gave them a few pointers before letting them put their new skills to the test.

Olivia Williams, events coordinator at the Chamber, said: “It was great to meet some of the players and see the new arena. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it was really fun. I can’t wait to have another go and see businesses try their hand at our Expo in March.”

Held on Wednesday, March 4 at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, the Chamber’s Business Expo will bring together more than 800 business delegates, who will all have the opportunity to test out their wheelchair basketball skills and maybe even challenge other businesses on the mobile court, which was recently set up at the Olympic Park in Stratford, London, as part of the pre-championship build-up.

The championships, which take place in the 2000 capacity, state-of-the-art facility next August, will see the best teams from across Europe converging on Worcester with their most skilled players. The victorious men and women’s team will qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

Mr. Bethel said: “It is fantastic that both the UK and Worcestershire will be welcoming people from across Europe and indeed the world with the congresses and international programmes that will be delivered in parallel to the championships. This event will support both local and national business and we are looking to work with the LEP and Chamber of Commerce to capitalise on this. The championships are fantastic news for the local economy, with thousands of visitors from across Europe expected to descend on the county to support their national team."

Mick Donovan, head of the sports and exercise science Institute at the University of Worcester, added: “We really believe that the inclusive culture within the region will contribute towards a fantastic international sporting event. There is a key role for the businesses to play and so far the response has been very positive.”