Queensland athletes from the Australian Global Games Team honoured at Parliament house in Brisbane
The Honourable Premier of Queensland, Anastasia Palaszczuk and Minister for Sport Mick de Brenni presented Queensland’s Australian athletes competing at the INAS Global Games with a State Athlete Bonus Grant at Parliament House on Wednesday.
Each of the 43 Queensland athletes received a Grant of $2700 to pay their entry fee for the Games which will be held in Brisbane in just eight weeks’ time.
The Premier said, “We want to ensure our local team members have the best chance of going for gold against the world’s best. And Queensland has a proven track record with inclusive games. The Gold Coast Commonwealth Games was the largest sporting event to integrate para-sports.”
The Premier added, “We’re building on that success with the INAS Global Games. And because disability should never be a barrier to competing at the highest level, my Government is also contributing $875,000 in cash support and $175,000 in in-kind support,” added the Premier.
Minister de Brenni agreed saying, “It’s also important that there is equality in sport for all Queenslanders, including those with any kind of disability.”
The Premier also had the privilege of announcing that a Queenslander, Archie Graham, would be co-captain of the Australian team.
“After only picking up a racquet 10 years ago, Archie, an Ipswich local, is a four-time Tennis World Champion and two-time winner of Tennis Australia’s Most Outstanding Athlete with a disability,” the Premier said.
She congratulated Archie saying, “we know you will lead the 2019INAS Australian team well.”
Archie responded saying “It is so exciting to not only represent my country, but the honour of being captain is quite unbelievable.
The Full Australian team of 226, with 169 athletes and 57 officials, was also announced by Sport Inclusion Australia.