THE JAMAICA Paralympic Association has released its 11-member team for the World Athletics Championship to be held in Assen, Netherlands, from September 2-10.

World record holder in the discus and 2004 Paralympic Games gold medallist Alphanso Cunningham heads the team and will compete in the discus and javelin.

Tanto Campbell, who won gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, will also compete in discus. Newcomers Kevon Melbourne and Shaunell Headley will represent the island in shot put and discus respectively while Coleen Morrison will also compete in the discus event.

Five-time Paralympian Sylvia Grant will throw discus and javelin. She was the only medallist at the last World Championships in 2002 when she collected a silver medal. The remainder of the team includes: Errol Daley - coach, Rose Clarke-Williams - hospitality co-ordinator, Rory Dixon - doctor and Suzanne Harris-Henry - team manager.

Although the association is more than $150,000 short of its $1 million budget, Harris-Henry says "preparations are going well. The athletes have been training, making sure that their equipment is ready and all is well."

"The team is excited and looking forward to it," she said.

The World Championship is the first of two qualifying events in preparation for the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China. The team will depart on August 27 and arrive in Assen the following day.