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Paralympics Australia has welcomed the launch of the bi-partisan NSW Parliamentary Friends of the Olympic and Paralympic Movements, which will work towards a range of community and sporting goals.
The Parliamentary Friendship Group is co-chaired by Paralympian the Hon Liesl Tesch MP, Member for Gosford and Eleni Petinos MP, Shadow Minister for Sport and Member for Miranda.
It will promote and champion the positive impact Olympic and Paralympic sports generate throughout NSW communities.
The launch last night at Parliament House in Sydney was attended by more than 130 guests, including Paralympics Australia President Alison Creagh, Chief Executive Catherine Clark and Australian Olympic Committee Chief Executive Officer Matt Carroll. Also in attendance was a wide range of sport, community, business and government representatives.
World Champion boccia player Jamieson Leeson and three-time Tokyo 2020 Para-swimming medallist Tim Hodge took part in a panel with Olympic colleagues triathlete Emma Jeffcoat and javelin thrower Mackenzie Little.
The NSW Parliamentary Friends Group will work together towards community and sporting outcomes, including:
- encouraging participation in sport across the state, promoting the wide ranging benefits sport can bring to all NSW residents;
- promoting the fundamental principles and values of Olympism and Paralympism, particularly in the fields of sport, health and education;
- promoting the practice of sport as a human right, without discrimination of any kind, with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play; and
- recognising the heritage, culture and contribution of our nation’s First People, and to give practical support to the issue of Indigenous reconciliation through sport.
President Alison Creagh said the Paralympic Movement was thankful for the support of the Parliamentary Friends of the Olympic and Paralympic Movements in NSW.
“We are grateful to have so many friends in the NSW Parliament who share Paralympics Australia’s vision for a fair and equitable sporting system in which everyone has the chance to participate in sport and realise their potential,” Ms Creagh said.
“Participation in sport leads to improved physical and mental health outcomes, and those improvements are amplified for people with a disability.
“This relationship with our NSW Parliamentary Friends has the potential to progress policy and investment that leads to positive change at a local level and also help Australia maintain our proud place among the world’s top performing Paralympic nations.”
AOC Chief Executive Officer Matt Carroll said Olympic sport brings people together and can improve health, wellbeing and community outcomes right across the state.
“NSW has a special connection with the Olympic and Paralympic movements. Sydney hosted the greatest ever Games in 2000 and some of Australia’s most iconic sporting moments,” Mr Carroll said.
“The Olympic movement is special – it has the power to inspire all our young people to be their best selves in whatever field of endeavour they choose. Olympic sports encourage healthy lifestyle and importantly, they bring people together from so many different backgrounds.
“Over many decades, NSW athletes have made a huge contribution to the success of Australian Olympic Teams. The New South Wales Institute of Sport has been a powerhouse of high performance achievement.
“I thank Liesl Tesch and Eleni Petinos for their leadership in Co-Chairing this group, which already boasts 50 MPs as members. I look forward to working with all participating members to maximise the positive outcomes Olympic and Paralympic sport can contribute to NSW.”
By: David Sygall, Paralympics Australia
Published: 20 March 2024
