Athletes react to Brisbane 2032 Olympics vision
“This is our games and this is our legacy.”
Australian athletes, including retired two-time Olympic gold medalist and Chief of Mission Anna Meares, have reacted to the newly announced Brisbane Olympics and Paralympic Games slogan “Believe. Belong. Be. Brisbane 2032”.
The track cyclist said he felt the slogan applied to society as a whole.
He said athletes have an innate belief that they have the ability to win, which makes them good role models for society.
“Faith is really important because faith gives you courage, the ability to step forward and try anyway when you feel fear and every part of you is telling you to turn and run.
“When it comes to belonging… we find a sense of belonging through our communities and connections, and for many of us, that’s through sport and sporting communities. And as an athlete and an Olympian who inspired the Australian Olympic team, being part of that team makes you feel proud to belong to that team, to wear the green and gold and to represent our country as a community.”
“As the Chief of Mission, the environment and culture of the team is critical because it affects their mood and their ability to connect and contribute.
“And these are the things we all need in our communities, not just in our sporting sector, but in our education, business, politics and everything else that impacts us in our lives as Australians.”
Meares said having the slogan ready now was crucial as it set the tone for the legacy the Games would create. “Our legacy is not what happened after the games, but what we started doing now to deliver those games.”
Paralympian Madison de Rozario said she hoped the Games would be a catalyst for Paralympians to be seen as well-rounded athletes like others.
“I think a big part of belonging in any community, in any world, is feeling and being perceived the way we perceive ourselves,” the wheelchair racer said.
“And I think a lot of times that’s not our lived experience as Paralympians and people with disabilities. I think a lot of times we see ourselves a certain way, and then we’re told over and over again through the stories we’re told about us that the world doesn’t see us that way.”
“When we tell the stories of Paralympic athletes, we often think of the acquisition of their disability as the nadir. And I think we don’t then go and look further at what that might actually be for that individual.”
Part of the slogan focuses on the new era of sport in Australia, with Australia’s fastest man Lachie Kennedy saying it is essential to develop future athletes.
“Every year a whole new wave of talent emerges that wasn’t there before,” the Olympian said. “Every new group of juniors are our best ever, every new group of people that come in are breaking records at nationals every year.”
“I mean, that’s the great thing about Australian sport, our grassroots really developing the youth, because that’s the future. [The Games] “It’s only temporary, but the base is permanent, so I think it’s very exciting and a really good opportunity for the city and the sport.”
More announcements about the Games are expected in the new year, including the emblem, sports program and first commercial sponsor.
The vision for the Games is not to be confused with the slogan Brisbane 2032, which will be published closer to the Games and used in promotional materials.
While the Los Angeles 2028 Games had the vision of “Together we can change the future,” Paris had the vision of “Sport can change lives.”
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