2024 Paris Paralympics: Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate calls for funding boost to parasports
Mayor Tom Tate wants to see a massive influx of funding for Paralympic sports in a bid to push Australia to the top of the medal tally when the 2028 and 2032 Games come around.
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Mayor Tom Tate wants to see a massive influx of funding for Paralympic sports in a bid to push Australia to the top of the medal tally when the 2028 and 2032 Games come around.
Mr Tate, who this week returned from the Paris Games, says he’s been inspired by the Paralympics and wants to both boost the nation’s success in the area, as well as increase accessibility for tourists.
“I’ll be looking at ways to accelerate our city’s investment in services and facilities to improve accessibility for not only para-athletes but for visitors and residents who have mobility challenges,” he said.
“Given my board position with Experience Gold Coast, I will be pushing for greater delivery of initiatives within our accessible tourism sector.
“As chair of budget, I will be working with all councillors to advance investment in our city’s public spaces, footpaths and facilities to ensure our city is better recognised as a destination for the accessible tourism sector.”
Mr Tate said he did not want to see winnable medals left on the table and would push for greater involvement in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics.
“From a Paris Paralympics viewpoint, I believe we can all do more to secure more national funding so they can compete more equally with other countries,” he said.
“As the medal table showed, we have done well but I am convinced we can do better with more funding.
“We need to do more to educate the public on the different classifications of the para-athletes. “People don’t understand what S7 or AD5 means so education is another aspect the IOC and AOC should consider leading in to Los Angeles and Brisbane.”
It comes as the city prepares to officially welcome back its athletes from the Olympics and Paralympics.
The event will be held on Sunday at the Home of the Arts (HOTA).
Mr Tate said the city had much to celebrate.
“The Gold Coast is incredibly proud of all our Olympians and Paralympians’ for their amazing display of persistence, determination and triumph in France,” he said
“Every Aussie athlete showed great sportsmanship, displayed incredible skill, and strived to perform their best throughout every match, heat, round, and final – we cannot ask for more than that
“This is the Gold Coast’s chance to say thank you for their hard work and congratulate them on their successes, so slap on some green and gold and bring some homemade posters to help us welcome back our athletes.
“Out of the 49 Gold Coast athletes who competed in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, 18 brought home a total of 25 medals across 19 events while at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, out of our 16 Gold Coast athletes, 10 brought home a total of 14 medals across 12 events.”
The celebrations begin with free kids sport at 8.30am before festivities kick off from 9.30am at the outdoor stage.
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