Canadian BC4 athletes prepare for international test in Astana
Iulian Ciobanu and Alison Levine on court
Photo credit: Antoine Saito, Défi Sportif AlterGo
OTTAWA, ON (May 26, 2026) – Boccia Canada is excited to announce the two athletes who will be competing at the Astana 2026 World Boccia Cup, from June 1 to 8. This event marks the first overseas event of the year for the national team.
The athletes competing in Astana are:
- BC4 Men: Iulian Ciobanu (Montréal, QC)
- BC4 Women: Alison Levine (Montréal, QC)
The staff accompanying the team in Astana are:
- Head Coach César Nicolaï
- Emilian-Sorin Susan, Performance Partner
- Shannon McGarr, Performance Partner
Levine and Ciobanu will each play in the individual event, then join forces for the BC4 pairs event.
The Astana World Cup will give the Canadian duo another opportunity to test themselves against an international field ahead of the 2026 World Championships in Seoul. Several top competitors expected in Astana are also likely to appear in Korea in August, making the event an important step in the team’s preparation.
Levine is looking forward to bouncing back from the last World Cup, “I’m excited to be going to the first ever World Cup in Kazakhstan knowing they had a lot of success last year with their Challenger. Going to a competition so soon after one that did not go our way is potentially a stressful situation, but Iulian and I were able to regroup very quickly, fix some things, and have been playing very well together and as individuals these past few weeks.”
Mario Delisle, High Performance Director, adds “This is a first for Canada in this part of the world, and Alison and Iulian are ready to bounce back after a challenging first World Cup in Montreal in April. Training in May was adjusted, and both athletes have regained the execution and confidence needed for a better performance in Astana. They are motivated by this competition, which will give them a better idea of the level of play to expect at the 2026 World Championships in August.”
Event Schedule
June 2 – Arrivals, equipment check, opening ceremony
June 3-6 – Individual competition
June 6-8 – Pairs competition
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About Boccia Canada
Boccia Canada is the boccia delivery arm of the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association (CCPSA), the National Sport Organization for the Paralympic sport of boccia. Boccia Canada is focused on providing athletes and individuals of all ages and skill with the chance to play a unique Paralympic sport. We lead, develop and grow boccia from grassroots to producing World Champions, and we collaborate with partners to increase participation of Canadians with physical disabilities in sport.
About boccia
Boccia is a Paralympic sport of precision and strategy similar to lawn bowling or curling, played by athletes with Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy and related disabilities. It is one of only two Paralympic sports that do not have an Olympic counterpart. Athletes compete in one of six sport classes based on their level and type of disability: BC1, BC2, BC3 BC4, BC5, and Open.
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Media Contact
Zoe Meil-Charbonneau
National Program Coordinator
[email protected]