Billionaire Australian Olympics benefactor Gina Rinehart’s packed Paris diary revealed
Australia’s biggest, and wealthiest, Olympics fan and benefactor, Gina Rinehart, has a huge week of sports events in Paris ahead of her. But there is one event which stands above all else. Details inside.
Australia’s biggest – and wealthiest – Olympics fan and benefactor, Gina Rinehart, has a huge week of sports events in Paris ahead of her.
But the highlight of Mrs Rinehart’s Paris visit will be a swanky luxury boat cruise she will host along the River Seine on the first Monday of the second week.
For 2.5 hours, swimming and rowing medalists, Olympics dignitaries and guests of the billionaire, will cruise the Seine in a glass-top boat taking in prime sites including the Eiffel Tower and the Notre Dame.
The restaurant boat is run by renowned French chef Alain Ducasse, who has been awarded more than 20 Michelin stars across his glittering career.
Ducasse left his kitchen at Monaco’s Louis XV, voted the second best restaurant in the world, this week to cook for a hundred heads of state and VIPs for the International Olympic Committee’s presidents dinner.
Mrs Rinehart – as she’s referred to by every athlete and administrator of the sports she financially supports – is also giving a generous gift to our medal winners in a pool.
They will receive a pair of specially made gold Rossi boots from the company she bought late last year.
“I hope those who join us love the cruise occasion after they have finished competing, but this is just a very, very small acknowledgement for the years of incredible effort our Olympians have put in. They really try so hard to represent our country well, and make our nation proud,” Mrs Rinehart said.
On seeing some of her favourite athletes in action, she said: “I believe Australia is presenting its best swimming team for any Olympics ever, so should be rather exciting.”
The mining magnate is likely to attend swimming finals in the evening at the Paris La Defense Arena and rowing finals at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium during the day.
She is expected to be flanked by swimming legend Dawn Fraser and is close to Kyle Chalmers and Lani Pallister and their families.
In an action-packed diary, she is due to attend an AOC Paris Welcome Reception event on Monday, hosted by AOC president Ian Chesterman and chief executive Matt Carroll.
Mrs Rinehart’s swimming attendance has been confirmed after a ticketing snafu in the leadup to the Games had officials scrambling to ensure the sport’s biggest benefactor had the best tickets and access.
Rowing officials and volleyball administrators have been preparing early to welcome Mrs Rinehart, who will arrive with up to 14 guests.
Mrs Rinehart will spend time at the beach volleyball in front of the Eiffel Tower and is close to Tokyo silver medallist Taliqua Clancy.
The duo struck up a connection when Clancy told Mrs Rinehart she was from Kingaroy in Queensland and that Karyn Bjelke-Petersen, daughter of the late Queensland premier Sir Joh and friend of Rinehart, had been her school headmistress.
Through her foundation and her Hancock Prospecting mining giant, Mrs Rinehart pours an estimated $10 million a year into athlete support for swimming, rowing, volleyball and artistic swimming.
Since a fallout with Swimming Australia, the money goes directly to the athletes, which has made her a popular figures in those sports.
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