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Australia’s best Para-athletes can forge their path to Paris 2024 knowing Paralympics Australia has the support to ensure world-class delivery of the Australian Team after financial security was provided in the Federal Budget on Tuesday night.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg announced the Federal Government would contribute $10.6 million to Paralympics Australia’s campaign to prepare and send an estimated 400-member Australian Paralympic Team to the Summer Paralympic Games in Paris.
The funding will provide surety to Paralympic hopefuls in the lead-up to Paris, where expenses are expected to significantly exceed those for Tokyo 2020. It also takes into account that the shortened Games cycle due to the one-year postponement of Tokyo 2020 reduces Paralympics Australia’s sponsorship, fundraising and commercial revenue-raising opportunities.
Paralympics Australia President Jock O’Callaghan praised the Federal Government for its support.
“On behalf of Paralympics Australia, we thank the Government, and in particular the Minister for Sport Richard Colbeck, for providing our organisation with the resources we need to ensure our Paralympians can continue to shine and inspire us all on the world stage,” O’Callaghan said.
“Paralympics Australia was established as a not-for-profit organisation in 1990. We are relatively young and we have not yet built the financial independence of some of Australia’s more established sporting organisations. Despite this, we run year-round high-performance programs and support National Sporting Organisations with their Para-sport programs, which are unique and critically important. These operations are on top of our major cost, which is the delivery of Australian Teams to the Paralympic Games and other major international competitions.
“As we continue to widen and diversify our revenue base, it’s gratifying to know that the Federal Government agrees that the benefits to Australian society of committing to Para-sport represents an outstanding return on investment.”
Paralympics Australia received a $12 million Federal Government grant for the Tokyo Games cycle, including $4 million for the construction of a Community, Education and Events Centre at its existing Victorian base at Tullamarine shared with the Essendon Football Club. A vitally important injection of $3.5 million to deal with Covid-related contingencies was provided in last year’s Federal Budget.
Paralympics Australia Chief Executive Catherine Clark said the Government’s support recognises the power and impact of the Paralympic movement.
“The performances of our athletes during Tokyo 2020 lifted the nation with their incredible resilience and skill but also their humanity. It is brilliant to know that the Federal Government recognises the power and impact that Para-sport and the Paralympic movement has within Australia,” Clark said.
“Our Para-athletes inspire Australians with and without an impairment to participate in sport in greater numbers and to dream big. Paralympics Australia and our Paralympians have this unique role of striving to deliver high performance sporting excellence while also driving social change towards a more inclusive and respectful Australia.
“With the Federal Government’s strong backing, we now embark on a Paris 2024 quest to lead the world in elite Para-sport, continue to shape attitudes and perceptions of disability and build on the exciting growth the international Paralympic movement is experiencing.”
Minister for Sport Richard Colbeck said the 2022-23 Federal Budget underlined the Government’s commitment to sport as the nation begins a decade-long schedule of major sporting events.
“Consistent investment in sport under the Australian Government’s National Sport Plan, Sport 2030, promotes a strong economy and healthy communities,” Minister Colbeck said.
“This year’s Budget is a showcase of additional funding, as the Government continues on that pathway.
“In the coming years our country will play host to a series of international sporting events unparalleled in our history, culminating in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“The Coalition Government is ensuring its ongoing support will help grow our reputation as the pre-eminent sporting host nation in the world.”
By: David Sygall, Paralympics Australia
Posted: 30 March 2022
