Western Australia’s Olympians and Paralympians have been welcomed home.
Fifty-three Western Australian athletes competed at the Olympic games and 20 competed in the Paralympics, with WA athletes producing five of Australia’s 18 gold medals at the Olympic Games.
Co-hosted by the WA Government and the City of Perth Council, yesterday’s event at Forrest Place was a public opportunity to honour the efforts and achievements of WA’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
“Congratulations to all the athletes who went to Paris and all those who came home with medals. We are so very proud of you all,” said Sport and Recreation Minister, David Templeman.
“For more than four decades, WAIS has had a strong history of supporting local athletes in achieving their sporting dreams. It is a vital part of the fabric of the WA sporting community – from grassroots through to high performance – that we are celebrating today.
“The Paris Games also remind us how important it is to have a robust grassroots sport and recreation system because that’s where so many of our Olympians and Paralympians first fell in love with their sport.
“I’d also like to take the opportunity to thank all the people behind our athletes – families, friends, coaches, allied health professionals and all the people who helped them and stood by them on their journey to Paris.”
