Sarah Walsh set a new Oceania record in the T44 long jump at her Paralympic debut at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Credit: Paralympics Australia.
Paralympics Australia aims for 2032 Brisbane Games to deliver societal change David Sygall of Paralympics Australia sees that Brisbane and South East Queensland’s hosting of the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics Games will supercharge a decades-long journey to embed Para-sport as a means for societal change.
risbane and South East Queensland’s successful hosting bid for the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics Games represents B the culmination of years of collaboration between the Federal Government, Queensland Government, Brisbane City Council and other local governments in South East Queensland, in partnership with the Australian Olympic Committee and Paralympics Australia. Brisbane 2032 will build on the powerful legacies of the landmark Sydney 2000 Paralympics, the London 2012 Paralympics where social legacy outcomes came of age, and the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, which set new standards for accessibility and equality for Para-sports and Para-athletes. Paralympics Australia President Jock O’Callaghan said the impacts of Brisbane 2032 would reinforce the Paralympic Movement’s strength in demonstrating what people with a disability can achieve and contribute in sport and beyond, and how and why they should be supported to realise their goals. 32 Australasian Leisure Management Issue 145
O’Callaghan states “we (now) begin the next chapter of a quest that started when the first Paralympic Games was staged, in Rome in 1960 - that is, the mission to facilitate fair recognition and opportunities for people who live with a disability. “Since those first Games, the Paralympics has grown to become far and away the world’s biggest event for promoting inclusion, a global showcase of the true value of sport. “This means that hosting the Games opens up extensive opportunities. Over the next decade, as we lead into Brisbane 2032, long term benefits will be realised across Australia, including in employment, skills, education, health and wellbeing outcomes, higher sporting participation rates, and in culture and community connection. “Our vision and plans are ambitious, as they should be. We will be guided by a relentless focus on inclusion, diversity and accessibility and we’ll be driven by the Paralympic ideals of determination, equality, inspiration and courage.” The pillars upon which Paralympics Australia and its Games partners will pursue their targets are: Establishing greater sport participation: We will establish new community programs and expand existing ones to encourage greater awareness and participation in sport, especially for people with a disability. These will include ‘Come and Try’ events, community sport forums and subsidised equipment funds. Our shared goal is to engage in sport a further 500,000 people with a disability by 2032. Increasing social inclusion and community connection for people with a disability: We will develop and implement extensive campaigns and strategies and engage closely with governments, human rights
