Funding for Paralympians heading to Rio

Paralympic athletes are $150,000 closer to getting to the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games thanks to funding from the State Government.

Sport and Recreation Minister Mia Davies said the event from September 7-18, 2016 would see more than 4,350 athletes from 178 nations participating in 528 medal events across 22 sports.

“The Australian Paralympic Team is an important sporting team on the national landscape and they help shape community attitudes towards disability,” Ms Davies said.

It’s hoped the Paralympic team will number more than 150 Australian athletes competing in up to 15 sports.  West Australian athletes training for a place on the team include wheelchair basketballer Shaun Norris, recent world champion wheelchair racer Madison de Rozario, runner Brad Scott and para-sailors Colin Harrison and Russell Boaden.

“These athletes are great role models to encourage West Australians with disability to participate in sport and are wonderful ambassadors for the power of sport,” the Minister said.

The Australian Paralympic Committee has received funding from the Department of Sport and Recreation to put towards their team appeal.

Australia has competed at every Paralympic Games and finished in the top five at every summer competition since Barcelona in 1992.

“The Paralympics and Olympics also encourage many young people at grassroots level to try a sport or continue to pursue their dreams towards high performance and this has such a positive impact on creating active communities,” Ms Davies said.

The Department of Sport and Recreation is an active supporter of inclusion in sport and active recreation through programs such as the Community Participation Fund and annual funding for groups such as Wheelchair Sports.

Fact File

• The Australian Paralympic Committee is a registered charity and relies on support from the public. Their revenue target for the Rio Games is $7 million
• Many of WA’s Paralympic hopefuls are training and preparing in the new $31 million WAIS High Performance Service Centre
• The sports of Para-canoe and Para-triathlon will appear on the program for the first time in 2016