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Current and aspiring Paralympians are set to benefit from a strengthened partnership between Paralympics Australia and retail leader Harvey Norman announced today.
The three-year agreement extends a link that pre-dates the Rio 2016 Paralympics and was expanded further in 2019.
It re-affirms Harvey Norman as the Official ‘Home Retailer’ Partner of Paralympics Australia and the Australian Paralympic Team.
The renewal announcement is another boost leading into next year’s Paris Games, where the Australian Paralympic Team will aim to consolidate its position as one of the world’s leading Paralympic nations.
“We’re immensely proud of our partnership with Harvey Norman,” Paralympics Australia Chief Executive Catherine Clark said.
“The team at Harvey Norman is a dream to work with and we’re so pleased to broaden that relationship as we head towards Paris 2024.
“They have demonstrated a strong commitment to help us develop and grow Paralympic sport and support our incredible athletes while also engaging in Para-sport at non-elite levels.
“The years leading up to the Brisbane Paralympics in 2032 will be a pivotal time and the development of our collaboration with Harvey Norman is a very exciting prospect.”
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The multi-faceted partnership will expand on existing exclusive content production to profiling athletes and their sports, the development of internal education modules and ongoing support for Paralympics Australia’s multiple Para-sport programs.
Harvey Norman Chief Executive Katie Page said: “Today we announce our renewal of our three-year partnership with the Australian Paralympic Team for a further two years while also announcing a new partnership with the Australian Olympic Team as they campaign for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
“Announcing our partnerships with both our national teams simultaneously is what Harvey Norman is all about – to support and celebrate our Australian athletes competing at the highest level, representing our country, across the broadest range of sports.
“The Paralympic and Olympic Games are unrivalled platforms for recognising individual athletic brilliance, national celebration of team achievement and inspiring future athletes of what is possible, often in less prominent sports.
“Gerry [Harvey] and I are here today on behalf of the entire Harvey Norman team. Together, we are fans of every sport and every athlete. We know if you are selected onto our Paralympic and Olympic teams you are the best of the best. Your path to selection has been tough. There were times you thought it was too tough.
“You will forever be Paralympians and Olympians – an accomplishment few will ever achieve and one that can never be diminished. In our support of you, we ask you to share your stories. The stories from long before you were selected, back when the Paralympic or Olympic Games first became your dream. If we can achieve anything in our partnerships it is to support the creation of more dreams and bring more Paralympic and Olympic Games dreams to life.”
Paralympic triathlon champion Katie Kelly said Harvey Norman’s extended sponsorship would produce benefits through to the Brisbane Games in 2032.
“Harvey Norman has always backed Australian sports, but importantly they have led the way in supporting women in sport and the Paralympics,” said Kelly, who won a gold medal at Rio 2016.
“This genuine commitment to equity in sponsorship has helped to continually grow the profile of the Australian Paralympic Team. Today’s announcement will also inspire our next generation of young Para-athletes to reach their own goals as we head towards 2032.”
Kelly expressed gratitude for the support that helped her achieve her ambitions.
“Harvey Norman’s investment in Paralympic sport and female athletes meant that in my own Paralympic career I was able to reach the incredible heights of winning Australia’s first gold medal in Para-triathlon.
“This success started the chain of infinite giving. Because of Gerry’s and Katie’s support of me, I was able to establish Sport Access Foundation, a charity to help our next generation of Australians with a disability access sport. That is what today’s announcement will do. The circle of infinite giving continues.”
Another Paralympic champion, wheelchair racer Madison de Rozario, said: “Harvey Norman has been a huge support over the last three years and it’s exciting to be able to continue that over the next two and hopefully more.
“As athletes we’ll do everything, we need to do on the sporting field but we’re only able to have the impact we have with the support of partners like Harvey Norman amplifying our voices and our stories.
“We’re grateful for the support and looking forward to seeing where the next two years takes us.”
The partnership was unveiled in an event in Sydney today, featuring Paralympians Madison de Rozario (Para-athletics), Katie Kelly (Para-triathlon) Chris Bond (wheelchair rugby) and emerging Para-athletes Montana Atkinson (Para-swimming) and Hudson Wan (Para-swimming).
Posted: 14 August 2023
