Double Paralympic gold medallist Simmonds is joined by multiple British medallists including Matthew Walker, Liz Johnson and David Roberts as the home nation take on swimmers representing Europe, the Americas and Rest of The World for the BT Paralympic World Cup trophy.

The event at the Manchester Aquatics Centre will be a key performance indicator for the British swimmers ahead of the IPC World Championships in August in Eindhoven.

The full line up for the GB team is: Eleanor Simmonds (Walsall/Swansea), Sascha Kindred (Leominster), Liz Johnson (Bath/Newport), David Roberts (Pontypridd), Matthew Whorwood (Newquay/Swansea), Matthew Walker (Stockport), Jonathan Fox (Newquay), Sam Hynd (Mansfield), Sean Fraser (Edinburgh), Thomas Young (Manchester), Heather Frederiksen (Wigan), Emma Hollis (Epping Forest), Louise Watkin (Tavistock), Stephanie Millward (Chippenham), Nyree Lewis (Leominster), Natalie Jones (Colchester), Charlotte Henshaw (Mansfield) and Elizabeth Simpkin (Southport).

Simmonds commenced the 2009 event in style by breaking the world record in the S6 100m Freestyle in the opening race and is relishing the opportunity of being back in Manchester to contest the 200m Individual Medley and 100m Breaststroke.

The 15-year-old said, “The BT Paralympic World Cup is a key competition for me in my preparations for this year’s World Championships in August. I had a great time last year and set a world record in my opening race. I always enjoy swimming in Manchester and I look forward to racing against everyone in my two events this year.”

BT Ambassador Liz Johnson will be taking on Simmonds in the 100m Breaststroke and said, “I’m delighted to be competing in this year’s BT Paralympic World Cup in Manchester. The event has really established itself and this is demonstrated by the number of top level competitors that are being announced. This year will be interesting for me as I’ll be in the same race as Ellie Simmonds, who gave such a strong performance in her event last year and I’m looking forward to competing against other elite performers such as Charlotte Henshaw whilst I am also undertaking a heavy training schedule.”

Leading the GB men’s swimmers is Matthew Walker, competing in the 50m Freestyle. He said, “I’m really looking forward to the BT Paralympic World Cup this year. It’s a great event with the support behind us from the crowd. It’s also fantastic that our friends and family get to watch us live instead of on TV.” Walker continued, “When the competition is tough, like it will be for this year’s BT Paralympic World Cup, you get in and do your best. When you’re standing on the block you should know that you’ve done your best to get there. Your attitude is really important. I know that I want to win and that’s what makes me a winner. I give 100 per cent in my training and in all of my races and I know my skills are still at the top because I always give it everything.”

The swimmers will compete in six different classes as the BBC broadcasts live from the BT Paralympic World Cup on Monday 31 May.

Tim Reddish OBE, Chairman of ParalympicsGB and National Performance Director for British Disability Swimming said, “I am delighted that so many of our British swimmers will be competing at the BT Paralympic World Cup. It is always a fantastic event that attracts world-class talent and outstanding performances. The British team will have the opportunity to compete against the best in the world in their home country, which will be an invaluable experience in their preparations for 2012. I know I speak for all our athletes when I say we are all looking forward to the event.”

The confirmed GB team and events are:
Sascha Kindred SM6 200m Individual Medley
Matthew Whorwood SM6 200m Individual Medley
David Roberts S7 50m Freestyle
Matthew Walker S7 50m Freestyle
Jonathan Fox S7 100m Backstroke
Sam Hynd S8 400m Freestyle
Sean Fraser S8 400m Freestyle, S8 100m Backstroke
Thomas Young S8 100m Backstroke
Eleanor Simmonds SM6 200m Individual Medley, SB6 100m Breaststroke
Natalie Jones SM6 200m Individual Medley, S6 100m Backstroke
Nyree Lewis S6 100m Backstroke
Heather Frederiksen S8 50m Freestyle, S8 100m Backstroke
Emma Hollis S8 50m Freestyle, S8 100m Backstroke
Louise Watkin S9 50m Freestyle
Stephanie Millward S9 50m Freestyle, S9 100m Butterfly
Elizabeth Simpkin S9 100m Butterfly
Charlotte Henshaw SB6 100m Breaststroke
Liz Johnson SB6 100m Breaststroke

The BT Paralympic World Cup is the world’s largest annual multi-sport elite disability event and major international stars and a strong British contingent are expected.

The competition will be staged in Manchester from 25-31 May, with over 400 competitors from over 31 countries scheduled to compete.

For the first time this year, a team challenge has been introduced which sees Great Britain take on teams from the Americas, Europe and the Rest of the World, with athletes competing for the overall BT Paralympic World Cup trophy.
Athletes will compete in four sports at world class competition venues in Manchester: Wheelchair Basketball, Football 7-a-side and Athletics at the Manchester Regional Arena and Swimming at the Manchester Aquatics Centre.

A half price early bird ticket offer for the BT Paralympic World Cup is available by signing up to the newsletter via the event website: www.btparalympicworldcup.com Tickets go on sale on 29 March 2010.

BT is the title sponsor of the Paralympic World Cup; the sponsorship runs up to and includes the 2012 BT Paralympic World Cup.

The BT Paralympic World Cup is sanctioned by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Cerebral Palsy International Sports & Recreation Association (CPISRA) and the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) and supported by BT, ParalympicsGB, the FA, Manchester City Council and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).

The BBC, the official televised partner to the event, will broadcast live from the Manchester Aquatics Centre on Monday 31 May 2010 on BBC Television.

The event schedule will see Athletics on 25 May, Football 7-a-side on 26-29 May and Wheelchair Basketball on 27-30 May, all at the Manchester Regional Arena and Swimming at the Manchester Aquatics Centre on 31 May.

Follow the BT Paralympic World Cup on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BTPWC