Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

On indulgence, I would like to note that Australia’s Paralympics team has left to compete in the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. At this year’s Paralympic Games in Beijing, Australia will take a total team of 170 athletes and 121 support staff—our biggest ever team to go to an away games. I was honoured to be at the announcement of the team in Parliament House on 29 July and to meet some of the athletes. The Paralympic Games is the pinnacle of sporting achievement for athletes with a disability, and Australia has a long and proud history at these games. In fact, Australia has participated in the Paralympic Summer Games ever since they commenced, back in Rome in 1960.

We Australians take great pride in those who represent our country. We love to see our teams compete on the world stage. Not too many people get to reach the level of excellence where they can wear the national colours of Australia and compete against the best in the world in their chosen sport. The nation will be cheering our Paralympians on in Beijing when their competition starts next week. Our Paralympians inspire all Australians. The example they set goes an enormous way to motivating other Australians to get active, to participate in sport and to be the absolute best that they can. They are role models, not only as sports men and women but also as extraordinary individuals. We will be watching, we will be cheering and we will be proud of their every achievement.

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