Thursday, 29 August 2024

 Sam GROTH (Nepean) (10:04): I, and I am sure everyone else in this chamber, want to wish our Paralympic athletes the best of luck ahead of the Paralympic Games in Paris. Last night we saw our 160 Australian athletes, 42 from Victoria, walk in the opening ceremony with the flag carried by Madison de Rosario as they went down the Champs-Élysées to the Place de la Concorde. We all know that those Paralympic athletes represent so much more than just the sports in which they are competing in Paris.

The Paralympic motto is ‘Spirit in motion’. It reflects the journey that a lot of those athletes have been on not only to be Paralympic athletes competing in those games but also with the disability and challenges that they have faced throughout their lives. These athletes are competing for far more than just themselves, for far more than just this state or this country when they compete in Paris. They are competing for recognition of the 1.3 billion people with a disability right around the world and they are showcasing that there are no limits for those people with a disability. They are an inspiration to so many. We wish all the best to those 42 Victorian athletes and those 160 Australian athletes who are representing us in Paris.