Zali Steggall (Warringah, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I was deeply moved yesterday by the attendance of the 1980 Moscow Olympic team in the chamber. I thank the Prime Minister for acknowledging the incredible sadness and weight the actions of our nation and the politicisation of the participation in the Moscow Olympics had on so many people—those who went, those who didn't go and those who were prevented from going. The lead-up to the Moscow Olympics was one of the most difficult periods for Australian athletes. The Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan disrupted their moment of pride, turning a celebration of athletic competition to a battleground of political tension. There was intense pressure from the Australian government, sporting administrators and so many commentators pushing for a boycott of the Games. The Australian Olympic Committee voted narrowly to attend. Many sporting federations and individual athletes were pressured into withdrawing, sacrificing dreams and years of dedication. Grateful to have the opportunity, others who went were met with incredible treatment by the Australian people, and were never celebrated in the way they should have been.

To be selected on an Olympic team is such an incredible opportunity, a dream. It's the culmination of so many years of training and sacrifice. To have that dream and ambition tarred and marred by so many others—externals—who have no real comprehension of what it has taken to get to that point is incredibly frustrating and sad. I think it's a moment in Australian history that we need to learn from and make sure we don't repeat.

I'm really grateful to have to opportunity to speak now, and also yesterday to some of the members of that team who were so wrongly put in the crossfire of politics. The intense public pressure not to compete continues to hurt many of those athletes. There were tears yesterday when people told me of their experiences—both going and not getting the opportunity to go. I acknowledge that devastation for those athletes, what they experienced and continue to experience. I hope that with yesterday's moment there was finally a moment to celebration and that entire team—those who went and those who didn't go.

I talked to one member who spoke of being part of the women's hockey team. It was going to be historic—the first ever women's team to participate—and they were favourites to do very well. A week before they were due to go, the Federation made the choice that they would not attend, that that sport would not participate. She had her uniform, she had the Australian Olympic blazer—the whole kit—but was never able to put it on. She was in tears talking about it. Even yesterday she wasn't sure whether she should have been there, whether she belonged in that moment of recognition, because we were also pointing out the lack of welcome home we gave the athletes that did go and participate. Yesterday was a moment for that whole team to finally feel united and recognised as a whole team, to thank those that did Australia proud and, in particular, to celebrate the incredible sporting achievements of those who competed.

There has been a dark shadow cast over those Olympic Games, and it should not reduce the success and the efforts of the Australian team. The team came home with nine medals: two golds, two silver and five bronze. Two gold were in the swimming, for Michelle Ford in the women's 800-metre freestyle and for the men's 4x100 medley. These were Australia's first gold medals since the Munich Olympics of 1972. This should have been a cause for celebration, and I can't help but wonder what would have been if we had had the full team there. There was no fanfare, no welcome home parade and our athletes were shunned by sections of the Australian public.

That is shameful, because that is the public that is putting upon them their feelings, and it just should not happen. As an Olympic athlete myself, I absolutely know the sacrifice and the dedication you have to go through to qualify for the Olympics. What it requires is perseverance through many highs and lows. In the media we tend to celebrate the highs, right? When it works, when everything goes well, we see that, and the Australian public recognises it. But there are many other dark times, hard times, where you really have to be resilient to continue to push through. There is immense pressure and dedication that goes into continuing, and all too often that is on very young people.

I had the opportunity to participate in my first Olympics when I was only 17 years of age. The pressure and the momentousness of that occasion, when I look back on it now at a higher age, I think was just extraordinary—to be so young and to have such an opportunity. Then, when I try and imagine the pressure that was put on those young athletes of that 1980 team, it is just unimaginable—the distress, the pressure, their families, their friends and everyone around them. They all should have been celebrated.

In the early 20th century, the father of the modern Olympic Games, Pierre de Coubertin, wrote that the competition ought to be free from political interference. That purpose is also reflected in the 1958 Olympic Charter. I know that can be difficult at times, especially when nations and human rights are being ignored and there are calls to try and use the audience of an Olympic Games to highlight that. But we have to think of the Olympic Games as highlighting it for good. It is a platform and an arena where we want to celebrate the best of humanity and all that is possible. It's about where we emphasise unity, neutrality and celebration of athletic excellence beyond borders and ideologies.

There has been a lot of positive diplomacy and participation in the Olympics. Sport has a really strong power to unite us all, to lift us and to reflect the very best of who we are and who we can be. Politicians should not grandstand or stand in the way of athletes pursuing their dreams. I would argue they have very little idea of just what it takes to get there.

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