Australia’s para-athletes will have the same financial incentives for winning medals at the Paris Games as our Olympians.
Federal Sports Minister Anika Wells said Paralympian gold medallists would receive $20,000, silver medallists $15,000 and bronze medallists $10,000.
“Para-athletes proudly represent Australia with great distinction at the Paralympics. Their performances on the world’s biggest stage will drive many Australians, young and old, girls and women, boys and men, to take up a sport or physical activity,” Minister Well said.
Meanwhile, a number of LIVE sites have been reactivated across Queensland for the Paralympics.
State Development Minister Grace Grace said South Bank in Brisbane would be LIVE throughout the Paralympics, from Thursday to Sunday, September 8.
“LIVE sites were hugely successful during the Olympics in bringing together communities to back the Green and Gold with more than 65,000 participants across nine locations,” Minister Grace said.
“The sites are coming back so Queenslanders can cheer on the 160 Aussie para-athletes, including 45 from our state, who will be among around 4400 athletes from 184 nations competing at the first Paralympics to be held in Paris.”
She said LIVE sites would showcase athletic talent in Paris on the big screen at South Bank, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Hervey Bay, Rockhampton, Longreach, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns.
“There will be a new CBD location for the Cairns LIVE site, the popular Esplanade Western Event Lawn and a new location in Townsville, on the iconic Strand.”
LIVE site locations are:
- Brisbane – South Bank: Thursday, August 29 to Sunday, September 8.
- Gold Coast – Great Lawn, Broadwater Parklands: Saturday September 7 and Sunday September 8.
- Sunshine Coast – The University’s Sports Arena, Sippy Downs: Thursday, August 29.
- Hervey Bay – Pier Park, Urangan: Friday, August 30 and Saturday, August 31.
- Rockhampton – Bravus Arena: Friday, August 30.
- Longreach – Edkins Park: Friday, August 30 to Saturday, August 31.
- Mackay – Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens: Saturday, August 31 to Sunday, September 1 (Part of the BMA River 2 Reef Ride Festival).
- Townsville – The Strand: Friday, August 30 to Sunday, September 1.
- Cairns – Esplanade Western Event Lawn: Saturday, August 31 to Sunday, September 1.
- Airlie Beach – Airlie Beach foreshore: Saturday, August 31.
- Ipswich – Tulmur Place in the Nicholas Street Precinct: Thursday, August 29 to Sunday, September 8.
