Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Australian Sports Commission congratulates Australia’s Paralympians

Australian Sports Commission congratulates Australia’s Paralympians
September 6, 2021

Australian Sports Commission Chair Josephine Sukkar has congratulated Australia’s Paralympic team on a triumphant Tokyo Games noting “the toughest of Paralympic preparations has provided us with the most inspiring of human performances.”

Australia completed the Paralympic Games in Japan with 80 medals across 10 different sports, finishing with 21 gold, 29 silver and 30 bronze.

Sukkar commended the team on its podium success, but said the inspiring two weeks in Tokyo had far transcended just medals alone.

Sukkar advised “our Paralympians are no strangers to adversity, but the preparations to get to these Games were like nothing we’ve ever seen before. In the face of these challenges, our Paralympians haven’t just settled for getting to the start line in Tokyo, they have excelled and inspired all Australians with their performances, humility, humanity and good sportsmanship.

“Their joy in competing was matched by the joy we felt watching at home. They have flown the flag for Australia as incredible ambassadors for our country and they have again raised global awareness about the astonishing abilities that people with disabilities possess.

“They have made all of Australia proud. There will be Australian children with disabilities who watched these athletes compete in Tokyo and will be dreaming of being a Paralympian themselves one day, perhaps at a home Games in Brisbane in 2032.

“Despite the many challenges faced in making it to these Games, our Australian Paralympians have brought the nation together and inspired the next generation of athletes.”

The AIS, through the Australian Government, is the largest funder of Paralympic sport in Australia, with investment in Paralympic sport increasing by more than 40% in the last decade.

AIS Chief Executive Peter Conde said he is proud the organisation has funding equality in grants for Paralympic and Olympic athletes adding “the focus of the AIS is to consistently support Australian athletes in multiple ways to help them achieve the medal winning performances we saw in Tokyo.

“The AIS directly provides $14 million every year in direct athlete grants – known as dAIS. A total of 86% of athletes in the Australian Paralympic team at Tokyo received dAIS during the extended five-year build-up to these Tokyo Games, as did almost 70% of the Olympic team. 

“The support of the AIS goes beyond funding and is represented through the incredible innovation and technology we have seen helping our athletes compete in Tokyo, the AIS Tokyo Heat Program, which has helped athletes recover and perform in the conditions in Japan, and through the continued support offered by the AIS Mental Health Referral Network.

“On behalf of the AIS, I would like to thank the Australian Government for their ongoing support and for the decision last week to provide medal bonuses for our Paralympians.”

The Games in Tokyo are the first since the AIS and all state and territory sporting bodies came together to sign the National High Performance Strategy in 2018, with the initiative aimed at strengthening collaborative partnerships across the high performance sporting sector and providing a collective vision for sport in Australia.

Conde noted “the excellent results we have seen at both the Paralympic and Olympic Games in Tokyo are a testament to the teamwork and dedication within the high performance sport sector in Australia.

“A Games period provides a great reference point for whether we’re on the right track. We should be proud of the progress that’s been made in recent years, and I congratulate all our partners in the National Institute Network and National Sporting Organisations, along with Paralympics Australia for their hard work and contribution to the success of these Games.

“I would particularly like to congratulate Paralympics Australia Chef de Mission Kate McLoughlin and Chief Executive Lynne Anderson. Your work to help make these Games a reality and support these performances has been extraordinary.”

Image: Ellie Cole helped Australia take bronze in the women’s 4x100metre mixed medley relayCole has 15 Paralympic medals to her name. Credit: Bob Martin for OIS/IOCCourtesy Paralympics Australia 

Related Articles

3rd September 2021 - Australian Government to reward Paralympic medallists

23rd August 2021 - Australia’s largest Paralympic team competing abroad receives growing and ongoing support   

16th August 2021 - Tokyo Paralympics will not allow spectators at major venues

30th July 2021 - Technogym equips 25 training centres for Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games

29th July 2021 - Partnership looks to enable the legacy objective of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games

27th July 2021 - Atlas Events welcome announcement of Sunshine Coast as location for 2032 Olympic and Paralympic marathons

26th July 2021 - Belgravia Swim Team athletes set to compete at Tokyo Paralympics

26th July 2021 - International Paralympic Committee and World Health Organization sign global sport agreement

24th July 2021 - Paralympics Australia aims for 2032 Brisbane Games to deliver societal change

22nd July 2021 - Australian Sports Commission welcomes Brisbane hosting 2032 Olympics and Paralympics

18th July 2021 - Lynne Anderson to step down as Chief Executive at Paralympics Australia

13th May 2021 - Speedo unveils Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics swimwear range

7th May 2021 - AOC, Commonwealth Games Australia and Paralympics Australia welcome introduction of national integrity framework for sport

20th March 2021 - Tokyo 2020 organisers confirm no international fans to attend Olympics and Paralympics

17th March 2021 - Shooting Australia awarded Paralympic Pathway Grant

11th March 2021 - Report suggest Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics will not feature overseas spectators

3rd February 2021 - Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics Playbook rules aim to safeguard against Coronavirus

4th December 2020 - Australian sport medical leaders’ collaboration looks to see athletes and teams well placed ahead of Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics

3rd December 2020 - AIS and Paralympics Australia partnership expands mental health support to future Paralympians

29th October 2020 - Australia’s Paralympic triathlon program to receive AIS funding boost

24th September 2020 - Shooting Australia creates new commercial and marketing role ahead of Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games

15th July 2020 - AIS announces funding boost for Olympic and Paralympic sports