Wishing our Rio Paralympians well

More than 150 Paralympic athletes, officials and Australian Paralympic Committee members attended the event at Sydney Town Hall, including Sydney athletes Angie Ballard (athletics), Andrew Edmondson (wheelchair rugby), Ellie Cole (swimming), Daniel Michel (boccia) and multi medal winning Paralympic wheelchair tennis champion, David Hall.

The City is providing more than $100,000 in funding for Australia’s Paralympic and Olympic Teams competing in Rio.

The Lord Mayor said the City was proud to support the Paralympic Team as they make their final preparations ahead of the Games.

"We are exceptionally proud of our Paralympic and Olympic Teams as they head to Rio and compete with top athletes from across the globe," the Lord Mayor said.

"It’s a tremendous honour for these athletes to represent our country and their community – and a huge achievement simply to be chosen as a representative and have the chance to compete.

"I’m sure Sydneysiders will join me in wishing our athletes well in Rio."

Approximately 580 Australian athletes will compete in the 2016 Olympics from 5–21 August and the Paralympics from 7–18 September.

Australian Paralympic Team Chef de Mission, Kate McLoughlin, said: "We are grateful that the City of Sydney is providing this level of support, which we know will make a positive and meaningful impact on our preparations for Rio."

The City was an official supporter of the Paralympic Team at the London 2012 Games, and provided support and sponsorship to Olympic Teams in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012.

"Increasing awareness of the contribution and needs of people with disability is an important part of the City’s role in promoting social inclusion and diversity," the Lord Mayor said.

"And what better way to reinforce these messages than to help support our athletes at the Paralympic Games - one of the greatest platforms for raising awareness of people with disability worldwide.

The City’s sponsorship of the Team is a wonderful opportunity to profile our athletes, their achievements and their journeys as well as engage them with our broad community."

More than 4,350 Paralympic athletes from 176 countries will compete across 22 sports in Rio.

Australia will field a highly competitive Team across 15 sports. The Team has finished in the top five on the gold medal tally at every Games since Barcelona in 1992.

The City – which encourages everyone to take part in sports and recreation - will soon launch a new Inclusive (Disability) Sport and Recreation Directory, recognising the importance of sport and recreational activities in creating inclusive and accessible communities.

The directory will operate through the City’s free What’s On website and allow people with disability to choose activities and programs that best suit them. Groups and organisations offering sports and recreation programs that are disability inclusive are encouraged to promote their activity on this platform.

For media inquiries or images, contact City of Sydney Senior Publicist Elaine Kelly on 02 9265 9201 or emailekelly@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, contact Paul Mackay on 0432 182 647 or emailpmackay@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

For enquiries about the Inclusion (Disability) Sports and Recreation Directory, contact Lisa Moir on 02 9265 7823 or email lmoir@cityofsydney,nsw.gov.au

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