The Australian Federal Government announced an injection of $12 million in new funding for its para athletes ahead of the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
$8 million will be aimed at ‘effectively managing the planning, coordination and delivery of the Australian Paralympic Team’ aiming for success in Tokyo, while an additional $4 million will be directed to the nation’s Paralympic Victorian base in Tullamarine. A Community, Education and Events Center is to be constructed at the site will feature accessible accommodation and training facilities for Para-athletes and teams as well as a Paralympic museum.
The funding announcement coincides with the overall re-branding of the former Australian Paralympic Committee into the new name of Paralympics Australia.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said, “This new investment from the Federal Government will assist with the significant costs associated with delivering an Australian team of this size and complexity to the world’s premier event for athletes with a disability. It also recognizes the Australian Paralympic Team’s unique and burgeoning place within Australian sport and the value it brings to the Australian people.
“I am proud that the Australian Government will be the key partner in ensuring the Australian Paralympic Team has the best possible chance to shine on the world stage in Tokyo. Our Paralympic hopefuls can now prepare with confidence, knowing the funds and support that they need and deserve to represent our country are secure.”
Paralympics Australia President Jock O’Callaghan stated,“This new investment is a resounding vote of confidence from the Federal Government in the ability of Paralympics Australia to deliver an outstanding return on investment and it confirms the evolving position of Paralympic sport within Australian society.
“I believe Para-sport and Para-athletes have come of age in Australia. The growing appreciation and respect for our Paralympians and the desire for greater equity and inclusion of Para-sport becomes more evident every day.
“This support will help to continue our wave of momentum heading towards Tokyo 2020 and beyond, so the benefits of sport continue to expand for people with disability, and ultimately lead to greater equity in all areas of life.”
AP CEO Lynne Anderson said, “This Federal Government funding, along with our valued ongoing relationship with Sport Australia, is a huge boost in an ongoing challenge to attract government, corporate and community support.”
“We will continue to work until our Paralympic hopefuls can prepare for each Summer and Winter Games without the worries that come with financial pressure and uncertainty.”
2019 Australian Para-swimming team international classifications.
Wow bombshells galore!!!
Firstly, Rowan Bright an S7 swimmer who represented Australia at both the Commonwealth games and the Para Pan Pacific games as just been classed out of S7 Para-swimming for being .8 of a cm too tall. Bright also won nine medals at 2015 World Dwarf Games, Bright suffers from short stature called hypochondroplasia.
Secondly, one of the big news stories, former S14 and then S10 swimmer, Paige Leonhardt, has just been classed out of the S10 category and issued with a Not Eligible notice. Furthermore, Para Swimming Australia are NOT going to appeal the Leonhardt classification decision. Leonhardt represented Australia at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, the 2017 World Championships, the 2018… Read more »
Omg Patterson S9 and after seeing the video of her walking poolside her limp has got much worse.
Can she fool the classifiers again with her acting
So it seems some parents have written to the IPC and her NGB demanding that a certain person has nothing to do with their child’s classification
Now if the sport is so clean and no hint of cheating why would they do that.
Way to go M Downie do you really think mike peters and Craig spencer take any notice 😂😂
Mark there is a brilliant photo of three Australian Para-cheats and frauds together, Lakeisha Paterson, Paige Leonhardt and Katherine Downie, note all allegedly suffering from CP. Furthermore, all have be change from either being an originally an S14 swimmer, to being S10 swimmers, some have gone on to being an S7 swimmer, then to being re-classified as an S9 and then finally cheating to an S8 swimmer. Now we know that both Downie and Leonhardt, are talking about getting themselves to be re-classified to be S9 swimmers for 2020 Tokyo!!! When will this madness end???
You know your telling the truth when the parent of a commonwealth games swimmer CC you in an e mails about how she is insisting on who classifis her daughter next week and for the IPC to deal with me.
Well Mrs Downie do your best
So it seems cheating pays off and has now full govt backing.
As to classification and the Lakeisha Patterson mysterious list of fake conditions let’s hope they actually grow some balls and ban the cheat for life.
People disagree with my comment which must mean they agree with cheating to win medals!!!
How that is justified I will never know
Well, look no further than Maddi Elliott – who you openly support – are you a neurologist? Are you a Physiotherapist? Be open regarding your qualifications if you are going to post hard hitting facts. Which medical field do you belong to Mark? Can we access and review your research work for example? Or are you just a winging Pom that was desperate to get involved and has gotten it all wrong?
Hahha ooompah where have you been living for the past year or so ???? Under a rock ?? Have a look at the minutes of the parliament hearing with the uk government you will see lots of eveidence !!!! Lp is not an s8 it’s white clear to see ,
As for Maddison Elliot she was an s8 toteallybtottally in the wrong place but now in the right place as an s9 , maybe you should do research your self ,!! As for downy she is a turn coat she cane on swim swam time and time again against the ipc and classification making sure everyone knew there was cheating going on and now because said daughter back on… Read more »
I take it your part of the problem being a Aussie, so you need to know what I am or know,
What would you like
A copy of the IPC own investigation into Patterson in which their own investigators said she is cheating.
Video of Patterson walking without a limp or using her clawed hand as for copies of medical records from Maddie Elliott ask her mum she might let you see them.
As the proud father of a bi lateral amputee I have probably more knowledge into her condition than you or any physio.
Now have you ever sat in on a para classification I have 3 times and also recorded the last one,… Read more »
Well stated again Mark.
Does anyone know how we find out who the classifiers for the meet are?
If it’s that cheating kiwi physio then Patterson could end up an S6
If they competed against able bodied athletes all this would be a non issue .. it’s still a feel good story being able to compete against other able bodied athletes
Sadly it is the reverse in reality- some able bodied people competing against those with disabilities.
If you want true equality and fairness then get them to race alongside “able bodied athletes .. then you won’t keep hearing about the issue of classification and all it’s spiteful cheating controversies and everyone can truly test their abilities against the best swimmers in the world .. that’s true equality and inclusiveness to me
Stop talking about yourself while looking in the mirror
I rest my case your comments are insightful in stupidity
I would be pretty angry if I were an Australian tax payer. The Australian government is well aware of the cheating.
Fred and thats where the real problem lies, the overwhelming Australian public, are totally unaware of the IM cheating within all areas of Para-sport. The world’s media need to well and truly blow the lid on the corruption, IM cheating and rampant fraud that is being perpetrated on the worlds tax-payers. Sadly ever major swimming nation around the world, are implicated in IM cheating in para-swimming.