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Eight Pacific nations have come together for a Welcome Event at the Paralympic Village to celebrate their unity and growing strength in the Paralympic movement.
There are nine countries in the Oceania Paralympic Committee – one of five regional organisations recognised by the International Paralympic Committee – and eight were represented: Vanuatu, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand.
Five of the Chefs de Mission from those nations are female, with Kiribati making its first appearance at the Games.
Among the guests at the welcome ceremony was Australia’s Governor General, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, the Federal Minister for Sport Anika Wells, Paralympics Australia President Alison Creagh and Vice-President Grant Mizens.
Australian Chef de Mission Kate McLoughlin said the warmth and spirit of co-operation amongst Pacific nations was something to be proud of.
“The Australian Paralympic movement has always valued the many relationships, connections and the great unity we have with our neighbours across the Oceania region,” she said.
“The respect we share for our many different cultures and traditions in and around sport makes us all stronger and progresses the true meaning of Paralympics Australia’s values – Loyal, Proud and Fierce.”
Triple gold medal-winning Paralympic swimmer Ben Austin (Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008) is a proud Wiradjuri man, and explained the connections First Nations Australians have with ‘country’.
Austin is one of 16 known Indigenous Paralympians since the Summer Games began in 1960, with four in the current 2024 team.
Austin could not perform the traditional smoking ceremony for his Oceania brothers and sisters but handed out leaves from the White Box eucalyptus tree, as a cleansing gesture.
Each nation spoke of the intention to use sport to build inclusivity in their home countries.
They also thanked the Australian Government’s development fund, PacificAus Sports.
PacificAus Sports creates opportunities for Australian and Pacific athletes to learn, train, play, and grow together.
Watch the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on the 9Network and 9Now live and free, and on Stan Sport from August 28 to September 8.
By Margie McDonald, Paralympics Australia
Published: 27 August 2024
