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Representatives from 17 sports in which Australia aims to compete at the Paris Paralympics have come together for a two-day conference to share knowledge, experience and hear about Paralympics Australia’s team delivery preparations.
The conference, titled PREP24PARIS, hosted by Paralympics Australia, began with a stirring keynote address by Para-athletics legend Kurt Fearnley, who spoke of the impact the Paralympics had on him and his determination that Australia seizes the opportunity to change perceptions of disability in the run-up to the Brisbane 2032 Games.
“The Paralympic Games changed the way I saw myself and changed the way my community viewed me,” Fearnley said.
Presentations, discussions and breakout sessions, including around Games operations, media at the Games and performance support services provided attendees with more insight into what to expect in Paris. It also featured an address by Rheanna Lotter, the First Nations artist who created The Journey design which has featured on the Australian Paralympic Team’s uniform since Rio 2016 and has become a poignant addition to the team’s strong and cohesive culture.
Australian Paralympic Team Chef de Mission Kate McLoughlin said the conference was about making sure the team behind the team knows each other and PA can provide the information it has gained so far about how the campaign will be delivered.
“It’s fantastic to see everybody from the sports, our partners, all those who come together to make the Australian Paralympic Team what it is, to talk about the build up to Paris and how we’re going to continue that planning to make it the best possible environment for our athletes,” McLoughlin said.
Much more knowledge will be gained as the Games near. However, McLoughlin said, “the more information you can provide to the sports, the sooner the better, it just means they can be as prepared as possible. It also helps us to gather questions from them so that we know what to ask the organising committee to gather further information for down the track.”
Australian Paralympic Swim Team head coach Brendan Burkett said the atmosphere in the room was one of camaraderie and excitement.
“When you connect with other sports, we’ve all got something to offer and we’ve all got something to learn,” he said.
“The more you look after the Mob, the more the Mob will look after you. If we can connect that here, we can connect that with our sports and then, when it comes to the pressure cooker of the Games, you know the Mob’s got your back. Those things are really important.”
Burkett, a veteran of Paralympic campaigns since he first competed at Seoul in 1988, said the preparations by many countries were similar. The difference, he added, “comes down to what’s between the ears and what your backup team is doing. They’re the bits that make the difference, they’re the bits that make us unique.”
By: David Sygall, Paralympics Australia
Posted: 30 August 2022
