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For all the Governor-General’s many and varied commitments, nothing was going to stop her attending the Canberra 2025 World Boccia Challenger.
“I first came across boccia when we were in Paris for the Paralympics,” Her Excellency, The Honourable Sam Mostyn, said.
“In Paris, I got to watch the finals … and I hadn’t seen anything like it.
“To know that this could be brought to Canberra for the first time, the first of its kind for Australia to be hosting this championship, nothing was going to keep me away.”
Her Excellency was joined at the tournament’s Opening Ceremony by the Federal Minister for Sport Anika Wells and Australian Sports Commission Chair Kate Jenkins, alongside the athletes from 12 nations who competed at the AIS Arena between November 3 and 11.
It was a remarkable show of support for boccia from three of the nation’s pre-eminent decision-makers in sport and beyond, and vindication for the boccia’s progress and development under the Para System Uplift.
“I think this sport teaches us so much about inclusion and excellence and teamwork and I’m hoping that by turning up we encourage more Australians to pay attention to boccia, to our extraordinary athletes and everybody involved in boccia in Australia,” Her Excellency said.
“It is one of the most technically challenging sports, I think, and the relationship between the ramp operator and the athlete, the things that are going on the whole time, it shows this incredible teamwork that we always see in sport but you don’t expect to see in boccia when you come to it cold.
“Once you sit and listen and learn from the athletes and realise the exceptional talent that is on show, it makes it compelling.”
So taken by the sport and its athletes, the Governor-General invited Australian Paralympic Team player Jamieson Leeson to Admiralty House to learn a bit more about the game and, specifically, the role of the ramp operator. At the Opening Ceremony, Her Excellency showed a little of what she had learnt.
“I was given a little bit of a training at Admiralty House in Sydney a few months ago as to exactly what the ramp operator does and the relationship with the athlete,” she said.
“I was learning and, just to be invited back here today to do a little bit of ramp assistance to Jamieson was a great thrill.”
Leeson said she was shocked when she realised at the Paris Paralympics that Australia’s Governor-General was in the crowd.
“It was absolutely amazing to have her support at the Paris Paralympic Games and then also here at the World Boccia Challenger here in Canberra, our first comp in 12 years here,” Leeson said.
“For people to be able to come here in Australia and watch the game in person and see such a high-level competition is really important for the development of the sport and get more people involved.
“We often get people following up and wanting to get involved in boccia post-Paralympic Games. But I think, honestly, this event here in Canberra this week will have just as much of an impact of people being able to physically come and watch the games and get involved.”
The World Boccia Challenger is part of the sport’s international schedule, alongside World Cups, World Championships and the Paralympic Games. The last time an international event was held in Australia was in 2013.
“It’s definitely a stepping stone to hopefully host more events in the future and leading into Brisbane Paralympic Games,” Leeson said. “Having people like Her Excellency and Anika Wells here … it makes us feel a bit more confident in what the sport is and how it can develop in the future.”
Jenkins said she was particularly proud to stage the Challenger at the AIS.
“We are so delighted to have such an inclusive sport but such a sophisticated, strategic, difficult sport [staged at the AIS],” Jenkins said.
“I’m so glad I can be here for the opening, but I’m also so looking forward to seeing the competition. I hope Australia does well, but I wish all the best to all the athletes.”
At one stage during the Opening Ceremony, the Governor-General, the Sport Minister and Jenkins, the ASC Chair, had a go at throwing the ‘golden ball’, aiming for a square marked in the middle of the floor, a symbolic tradition to open a tournament.
“I think getting the opportunity to throw the golden ball made you realise how very, very hard it was,” Jenkins said.
“I was sitting next to the Minister who was like, ‘How do we do this?’
“The reality is these athletes, the Para-athletes, are really skilful and you can’t underestimate what they’re achieving out there and how exciting it is to watch it and how clever they are to be playing.”
World No.1 in the men’s individual BC3 classification, Dan Michel, said the sport’s growth was exciting.
“It’s just awesome to see the support,” he said. “You know, the sport’s come along so fast since I’ve been involved in it. Thinking back 10, 15 years ago, to get such a turnout, from just locals as well, it’s awesome to see.
“It’s a really special moment for boccia in Australia, for sure.”
The Challenger is a prelude to next year’s qualification tournaments.
“We’ve got the World Cups and a big event next year, the World Championships, which will really lay a platform for 2027 in the lead into LA,” Michel said. “Hopefully we go well there and everything will flow from that point onwards.”
By David Sygall, Paralympics Australia.
Published 5 November, 2025.
