As we rapidly approach the end of 2021, I’m already tempted to look back over the year. While we’ve been extremely lucky to continue working steadily throughout various parts of Australia, we’ve also had our eyes set on things ahead, both in terms of location and future planning.
As an ex-Paralympian, the Paralympics never cease to amaze, thrill and delight me. Throughout August and September, 179 Australians competed in the Tokyo Paralympics, finishing eighth in the medal tally with 21 gold, 30 silver and 30 bronze medals. Executing amazing performances and heartbreaking finishes, the entire team overcame adversity to compete in a lockdown city still enduring another wave of COVID-19 outbreaks.
I was fortunate enough to be asked by Channel 7 to commentate for the wheelchair basketball events alongside Matt Hill – one of the world’s preeminent race callers – AFL and ESPN commentator Jason Bennett and Olympics commentator Darren Boyd. This was an amazing experience and one I will remember fondly forever. For myself, the sheer thrill of sitting each day in a sound booth at the Docklands looking over the stats, team sheets and player backgrounds took me right back to my Paralympian days.
In the back of my mind, I was hoping we could replicate what I was lucky enough to experience in the 1996 Atlanta games – Paralympic wheelchair basketball gold! At the same time, I was invited to be part of ABC’s Offsiders program to present up-to-date Paralympics results. Both of these broadcasting and commentating experiences were unique and fun in different ways and allowed me a special insider glance into the games.
Some of our Paralympians also had to overcome a few additional challenges. Unfortunately for the Aussie Rollers, a COVID scare meant they had to isolate themselves from the rest of the Australian team, with meals and treatments brought to them and no opening or closing ceremonies. They also missed out on opportunities to see the sights of the city, the international village and nights out after competition.
Instead, the team was shuttled back to Australia for two weeks of quarantine in a hotel and no street parades. The sacrifices made by the team to represent their country with such grace and strength make their achievement even more special.
In other Olympics-based news, I was also very lucky to play a small part in the bid for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brisbane, which we won. Now the hard work starts to create, develop and enhance the infrastructure and venue. The legacy of the Sydney 2000 Olympics and Paralympics is still evident within the city, both in construction and culture.
I will never forget the day I overheard a young boy ask his Mum what sport I played, rather than what was wrong with me. Brisbane now has the chance to experience this same seismic shift in the perception of athleticism, something that I personally find extremely exciting and heartwarming.
Lastly, David and I want to thank all our staff, clients and business networks for continuing to work in a state of lockdown. Challenges such as these make us more flexible, adaptable and resilient. We look forward to the new normal, whatever it may look like!
