Australia’s first welcoming home party for Olympians to be held in Darwin
Darwin will be the first Aussie city to throw a party starring our Olympic heroes, including Australia’s most successful ever Olympian, Emma McKeon. READ THE EXCLUSIVE DETAILS HERE.
Northern Territory
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DARWIN will officially be the first place in the nation to give our Olympians a true hero’s welcome, after their release from Howard Springs next week.
The NT News can exclusively reveal an official Darwin Olympic Celebration will be held on the Darwin Waterfront on Tuesday afternoon.
Nine Aussie Olympians are lined up for the event, including swimming champions Kyle Chalmers, Bronte Campbell and Emma McKeon, the latter of whom has become Australia’s most successful Olympian of all time.
McKeon has won a record 11 medals in her career so far, including four Golds in Tokyo.
It will be the athletes’ first welcoming home parade since landing in the Top End two weeks ago, where they were whisked away to complete mandatory isolation.
Also attending are swimmers Alex Graham, Jenna Strauch, Madeleine Gough, Jessica Hansen, Zac Incerti and Rugby Sevens player Sariah Paki.
The Olympic celebration, which has the blessing of the Australian Olympic Committee, will feature the athletes being presented Territory gifts.
The superstars will also be interviewed on stage in front of a crowd at the Darwin Waterfront.
Chief Minister Michael Gunner, who has been involved in firming up the event, has encouraged Territorians to flock to the event to celebrate “arguably the greatest ever” Olympic Games.
“Our Olympians did us proud in Tokyo,” Mr Gunner said. “Despite the delay, the lack of crowds, and the Covid situation – our Olympians displayed not just athletic excellence but incredible humanity.
“They have done even further service to the nation with a 14-day quarantine stint to make sure they didn’t bring Covid back to Australia by accident.”
Mr Gunner said the Games helped “to lift us, inspire us, and unite us” during a tough time across the nation.
“They also reminded us that everyone can strive for that Olympic ideal of faster, higher, stronger.”
Details of the event, such as the exact time and the final list of Olympians to attend, are still being finalised.
The athletes’ arrival into Howard Springs has given Territorians a glimpse into the quarantine facility.
Other swimmers at the facility include Emily Seebohm, Brianna Throssell and Kiah Melverton, while 23-year-old Rohan Browning — who stunned the nation with a strong sprint in his heat at the 100m sprint — was also spotted disembarking at Darwin Airport.
The NT News earlier this week interviewed Ariarne Titmus, who is quarantining in the Top End.
Titmus said she was treating her stay at Howard Springs as a well-earned break following the games.
“It gives you an opportunity to relax,” she said.
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