Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

'Spirit in motion' is our Paralympians' motto that they take to Rio. It is of great credit to the Australian Paralympic Committee and it should be a source of great national pride that Australia is sending a record team to this year's games. In winning the right to represent their country, each and every one of these elite athletes has already achieved tremendously. It is no exaggeration to say that, for every challenge an Olympian overcomes, a Paralympian faces and conquers it 10-times over. Only those closest to them—their parents, partners, coaches, mentors and teammates—truly know the courage and determination required to reach the pinnacle of the Paralympic Games. All Australians can unquestioningly admire our athletes' extraordinary feats of athleticism, fortitude and grace.

I am confident we will achieve great success in the pool, on the track, on the court and on the water, with medals in great numbers and of all colours. But there is much more for all of us here in Australia to gain and to learn. I was privileged to attend the Beijing Paralympics in 2008, and it opened my eyes to what the future could be, what the future should be. At the Paralympics, people of all abilities and of all nations mix together as equals. At the Paralympics you very soon stop looking at the impairment and instead see the whole person. What you see are elite athletes who happen to have an impairment. It is a lesson for all time. In the coming weeks, our Paralympians will not just inspire us; they will teach us. In doing so, they will make us all a bit more proud to be Australian.

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