Our Olympians represent the best of Australia: diversity, equality and opportunity

It felt like the world needed the Olympics.

And they have arrived with all the ceremony and style of one of the world’s great cities – Paris.

For the next couple of weeks, I have just accepted that I will be going to sleep late or waking up early to watch our athletes. 

From being glued to the TV for the Ariane Titmus triumph in her 400m freestyle to cheering on Jess Fox as she cruises through the whitewater, the Olympics can make a whole country collectively hold their breath.

It also represents the best of the nation – diversity, equality and opportunity.

At 14 years old Arisa Trew is one of the youngest Australian athletes to ever compete in the Olympics.

We have the incredible Tina Rahimi who is Australia’s first hijab-wearing boxer to compete in the Olympics.

Importantly, our team for the Paris Olympics has our highest proportion of women ever, at 55 per cent.

I’m particularly proud of our fantastic local Macnamara athletes, including Melissa Tapper, the history-making table tennis player who was the first Australian athlete to compete in both the Summer Olympics and Summer Paralympics. 

Our Olympians are role models for young Australians, not just because of their skill and strength but because they represent our diversity and what it means to wear the yellow and gold.

Sport should be for everyone, regardless of your background, faith or culture. It should be accessible, safe, and fun for everyone to participate in.

That’s what our approach to sport is all about.

The Albanese Labor Government has delivered the largest ever investment in Olympic and Paralympic sports to help our brilliant athletes achieve glory on world stages.

A record $283 million in new money will flow to our elite athletes, coaches and support staff over the next two years in a historic show of support on the path to Brisbane 2032. 

For too long, the systemic and structural barriers to performance for Paralympic athletes have been ignored.

Our funding package for Paralympic athletes is the biggest ever and double the amount of investment the previous government made for Paralympic athletes.

This funding will mean more training and opportunities for more athletes to compete at an elite level. 

But it’s not just about the top level.

Our local sporting clubs should be there for everyone to play. It's not just about physical activity, but these clubs are a vital part of our community.

Following the Women’s World Cup we announced the Play our Way program, to provide greater opportunities for women and girls to access, participate and get involved in sport. 

Just last month, The Minister for Sport Anika Wells addressed UNESCO’s Change the Game Sport conference in Paris, and she said “I truly believe gender balance in sport in Australia has been permanently improved by the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.”

Whether it be in the XXXIII Olympiad or in our local parks and sporting venues, I will continue to support our local athletes. I will be glued to the great equaliser that is sport, and perhaps most of all I will be enjoying the few days to focus on the world coming together as one. •

Josh Burns is the Federal Member for
Macnamara.