Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch is co-chair off a new parliamentary group aimed at celebrating the important role of Olympic and Paralympic sports throughout the state.
She launched the bipartisan NSW Parliamentary Friends of the Olympic and Paralympic Movements recently with co-chair Eleni Petinos, who is Shadow Minister for Sport and Member for Miranda.
The Parliamentary Friendship Group (PFG) will promote and champion the positive impact Olympic and Paralympic sports generate throughout NSW communities.
It will work together towards key community and sporting outcomes, including: encouraging participation in sport across the state; promoting the fundamental principles and values of Olympism and Paralympism; promoting the practice of sport as a human right, without discrimination of any kind; and recognising the heritage, culture and contribution of our nation’s First People.
“As a former Paralympian and now a member of Parliament, it was fabulous to join so many of my colleagues to celebrate the inaugural meeting of the Parliamentary Friends of the Olympic and Paralympic Movements in NSW,” Tesch said.
“Our first function was a great opportunity for parliamentarians, athletes and representatives from sporting bodies from across NSW to celebrate our wonderful athletes and wish them well on their journey to Paris.”
Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) Chief Executive Officer Matt Carroll said Olympic sport brings people together and can improve health, wellbeing and community outcomes right across the state.
“NSW has a special connection with the Olympic and Paralympic movements,” he said.
“Sydney hosted the greatest ever Games in 2000 and some of Australia’s most iconic sporting moments.
“The Olympic movement is special – it has the power to inspire all our young people to be their best selves in whatever field of endeavour they choose.
“Olympic sports encourage healthy lifestyle and importantly; they bring people together from so many different backgrounds.
“Over many decades, NSW athletes have made a huge contribution to the success of Australian Olympic teams.
“The NSW Institute of Sport has been a powerhouse of high-performance achievement.”
Paralympics Australia President Alison Creagh thanked the group for its support.
“We are grateful to have so many friends in the NSW Parliament who share Paralympics Australia’s vision for a fair and equitable sporting system in which everyone has the chance to participate in sport and realise their potential,” she said.
“Participation in sport leads to improved physical and mental health outcomes, and those improvements are amplified for people with a disability.
“This relationship with our NSW Parliamentary Friends has the potential to progress policy and investment that leads to positive change at a local level and also enable Australia to maintain our proud place among the world’s top performing Paralympic nations.”