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A festival-like atmosphere has followed Australia’s Paralympians around the country as they joined their Olympic colleagues for Welcome Home celebrations, meeting fans and saying thank you to the communities that supported them during Paris 2024.
The series of receptions began with the Prime Minister, the Governor-General and other dignitaries joining families and friends of the athletes at a grand welcome event at the Qantas Hangar at Sydney airport when about 100 team members arrived from Paris last Wednesday. It was a first-of-its-kind welcome for an Australian Paralympic Team and drew upwards of 1000 people.
Joining Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on stage was the Governor-General Her Excellency Sam Mostyn AC, who is Paralympics Australia’s Patron-in-Chief.
“I think Australians connected through the broadcast with all of your achievements, with a completely new level of engagement …,” Ms Mostyn said. “The Australian Paralympic movement is a blueprint for a world in which inclusion and belonging are at the centre, with respect and an unequivocal embrace of diversity.”
The PM, in his speech, remarked on “the adversity that you had overcome, the challenges you had faced, the determination and commitment that brought you to the pinnacle of world sport”.
Also delivering official speeches were Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson, Paralympics Australia President Alison Creagh and Australian Paralympic Team Chef de Mission Kate McLoughlin.
Medal-winning athletes Curtis McGrath (canoe), Vanessa Low (athletics) and Jamieson Leeson (boccia) answered questions on stage.
The Welcome Home at Sydney airport kicked off a string of events for Australia’s returned Paralympic and Olympic athletes attended by thousands of Australians in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Maroochydore. Celebrations in Launceston and the Gold Coast take place this weekend.
“I haven’t experienced anything like this,” cycling bronze medallist Gordon Allan said at the Sydney event.
“As a Para-athlete, to see this reception, to see the recognition – to see that we’ve influenced people out there – it’s great.
“I knew we had some fans from over in Paris, you could see the support from home. But to come back and experience it first-hand, it’s been great.”
Leeson felt similarly. She said she “felt the love in France, but I feel it even more now”.
“The power of the Paralympic Games is incredible,” she said.
“Being here together today, the Olympic team with the Paralympic team, I think it’s a good conclusion for the whole event. Even though the events are separate, the end results are the same; we’re athletes trying our best, having a good time and trying to make Australia proud.”
The weather was a little less welcoming in Melbourne, but it made no difference.
“To see the community coming out on a not-so-warm day shows the love and support for all of our Paralympians and Olympians. It means a lot,” said Paralympic debutant Reece Langdon, who won a bronze medal in the 1500m T38.
“Regardless of what the result was, just to be able to call myself a Paralympian is obviously an amazing accomplishment. Not many athletes can say they’ve been able to do that. But to also come home with a medal has meant that all those years of hard work has paid off.”
Proud South Australian Jed Altschwager loved the reception in Adelaide.
“To be able to come back to the city, to connect with the community … South Australia is such a beautiful state, I love it here, so it’s been awesome,” the rowing gold medallist said.
“Just the conversations we’ve had, kids coming up, wanting us to sign a few things, just talking about the emotion that they felt watching the racing, it’s awesome.
“To be able to call myself a Paralympian and be part of this incredible movement is very special.”
Altschwager’s crewmate Nikki Ayers, said: “There are so many kids here who are involved in sports, in Para-sports, and … being able to encourage them to never give up on their dreams and [tell them] it could be them up on the stage one day, it’s just a privilege.
“This is how we, as athletes, can give back to our communities.”
By: David Sygall, Paralympics Australia
Published: 18 September 2024
