Minister for Sport Anika Wells will support Australian athletes at the Paris Paralympic Games, speak at the UNESCO Disability Inclusion Conference and meet with international stakeholders during the opening days of Australia’s 2024 Paralympics campaign.
Minister Wells is travelling to Paris from 25 August to 1 September 2024, representing the Australian Government at the Paralympic Games.
While there, she will visit Games venues including the Paralympic Village and the PRISME facility. The PRISME is Europe’s first fully inclusive multi-sport training facility and was built for the Paralympics.
Minister Wells will also speak at the UNESCO International Disability Inclusion Conference, where the theme is ‘Harnessing the transformational impact of Para sport’.
She will attend the Paralympics Opening Ceremony and events, support Australian athletes and learn more about creating an accessible Games in Brisbane.
Australian Government funding for Paralympic athletes is the biggest ever, giving our athletes the best possible chance of success in elite competition.
Through the Australian Sports Commission, the government has provided funding to 41 Olympic and Paralympic sports to support their athletes and high-performance programs.
The government provided an extra $20.1 million to help with qualification and preparation for the Olympic and Paralympic teams.
In June, the government announced additional funding of $283.5 million to support athletes’ paths to the Brisbane 2032 Games. This funding, which includes $54.9 million specifically for Paralympic sport, marks a significant milestone in the advancement and recognition of Para-sport within Australia.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Sport, Anika Wells:
“I’m hoping to learn as much as I can in Paris about creating inclusive venues and events for our own Paralympic Games in Brisbane, while supporting our athletes as they strive for personal bests.
“The Albanese Government has significantly improved funding for Paralympians with a record-breaking investment in Para-sport, doubling the funding to almost $55 million dollars over two years.”