Para-sport to flourish at Gold Coast 2018

14 Nov 2011

“This promises to be the most significant multi-sport event for athletes with a disability Australia has hosted since the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, which is widely regarded as Paralympic sport’s coming of age on the world stage."

The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games will provide the greatest opportunity to showcase Paralympic Sport since the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, according to Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) President, Greg Hartung.

Speaking after the Gold Coast won the bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Hartung said hosting one of the world’s biggest international multi-sporting events will further build the profile of Paralympic Sport in Australia.

“The APC has had a number of meetings with members of the Gold Coast 2018 Bid leading up to the announcement and we are excited by the opportunities ahead,” Mr Hartung said.

“This promises to be the most significant multi-sport event for athletes with a disability Australia has hosted since the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, which is widely regarded as Paralympic sport’s coming of age on the world stage.

“The Gold Coast Organizing Committee is committed to including and promoting Para-sport and this will be a unique opportunity to promote Para-sport within the Commonwealth. I congratulate everyone involved on this outstanding bid and I look forward to what the next seven years will bring in advancing Para-sport within the Commonwealth.

“The APC is keen to provide the organizing committee with every support in the journey ahead,” he said.

Para-sport was first included in the Commonwealth Games in 2002 with 10 events for athletes with a disability featuring in Manchester. The number of events grew to 12 in Melbourne 2006 and 15 in Delhi 2010.

At the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, Australia’s Para-athletes contributed five gold, four silver and four bronze medals to Australia’s overall medal tally of 74 gold, 55 silver and 49 bronze.

Of the 22 Australian athletes with a disability who competed in Delhi, 12 won medals including swimmer Matt Cowdrey who broke the world record in the S9 50m freestyle to win gold and wheelchair racer Kurt Fearnley who took out gold in the T54 1500m.

The Gold Coast won the right to stage the 2018 Commonwealth Games by 43 votes to 27 in a contest with Sri Lanka’s bid city, Hambantota.

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