A Message of Welcome
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With the Games of the XI Paralympiad almost upon us, I am confident Sydney, and
Australia, will stage the best Paralympic Games yet. While a true assessment of the event
will not be possible until after the Closing Ceremony on 29 October, Sydney's Games have
already resulted in some significant advances in the Paralympic movement.
I have been involved in every Paralympic Games since the first in Rome in 1960 where 400
athletes from 23 countries competed. In 40 years the event has experienced phenomenal
growth. Sydney's Games will be the second largest sporting event in the world this year
with an expected 4,000 athletes from 125 delegations.
The growth of the event is in part due to an increase in the number of sports and
disability groups who compete at the Paralympic Games. In Rome, one disability group
competed across six sports. In Sydney, six disability groups will compete across 18
sports.
The Paralympic Games is now an elite, international sporting event. The standard of sport
played is supreme quality - energetic, powerful and fiercely competitive. Strong ticket
sales for the men's and women's wheelchair basketball, swimming and wheelchair rugby
finals in Sydney is indicative of the Australian public's recognition of the value of
Paralympic sport.
In keeping with the growth of the event, the administration of Paralympic sport has also
developed. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the international sporting
federations representing the individual Paralympic sports and disabilities groups have
been instrumental in increasing the level of professionalism in sport for athletes with a
disability. Developments such as the international circuits for Paralympic sports by these
federations has provided athletes with regular, elite, international competition resulting
in improved performances and sponsorship interest.
The growth of the relationship between the Paralympic and Olympic movements has also been
significant. Staging the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games has provided an excellent example of
the parallel between the two movements. The Sydney Paralympic Organising Committee
established a close operational partnership with the Sydney Organising Committee for the
Olympic Games (SOCOG) and the Olympic Co-ordination Authority (OCA) to deliver transport,
accommodation and competition venues for the Paralympic Games - accessible to both
athletes and spectators.
The Paralympic Games will leave a number of legacies for the Australian community. The
most significant, will be a greater recognition and a change in attitude towards athletes
with a disability within the broader Australian community. Programs such as the Organising
Committee's school pen-pal scheme LEAP (Link Elite Athletes Program), which has seen more
than 2,710 schools corresponding with athletes preparing for the Games and almost 300,000
school children visiting the Games, have contributed to this.
The anticipated domestic and international media coverage for the event will also help to
increase awareness of the abilities of people with a disability and the value of disabled
sport and the Paralympic Games as an international sporting event.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my Board colleagues, the Chief
Executive, management and all staff for their efforts and commitment to staging a
successful Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. To the athletes, I welcome you to Sydney,
Australia and wish you every success in your quest for sporting excellence.
Dr. John Grant
President, Sydney Paralympic Organising Committee |
