Matt Thistlethwaite (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I grew up in Maroubra. Like every kid growing up in Maroubra in the seventies and eighties, I learned to surf and swim. When I was swimming at Heffron Pool, the people that I idolised as a kid were a few lanes down, swimming under the tutelage of the great John Rodgers—the likes of Max Metzker, Ron McKeon, Graeme Brewer, Michelle Ford and Trevor Cracknell. I saw the gruelling sets they used to get put through by JR and how hard they trained for that one shot at representing their nation in the pinnacle of sport, the Olympics. I imagine it's the same for every Olympian in every sport they train for, day after day, month after month, year after year, waiting for the opportunity to fulfil their dream of representing their country at the Olympics. For the 1980 team, to have that dream ripped away would have been heartbreaking and harrowing, particularly in circumstances beyond their control. In an unfair manner, sportspeople were asked to undertake a boycott but in other facets of society, most notably in the economy, we still continued to trade with Russia.

It was fitting that those 1980 Olympians were welcomed home yesterday by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition here in the parliament. We thanked them for coming to Canberra, we thanked them for coming to parliament and, most importantly, we thanked them for representing our nation with pride and distinction at the 1980 Olympics. It was a tribute to their courage, to their conviction and to their hard work in representing Australia at that time.

That team gave Australia one of its greatest Olympic moments ever. Who could ever forget those iconic words of Norman May in calling the men's 4x100 medley relay; he uttered those immortal words—

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

'Gold, gold!'

Matt Thistlethwaite (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

'Gold, gold to Australia!'—the member for Wannon remembers it! Since that time, every athlete that competes at the Olympics for Australia hopes to hear those iconic words being called in their race. That team gave that moment to us, to our nation and to every Olympic athlete after that, and for that we truly thank them.

I reckon the best time I've ever experienced as an Australian, and the proudest that I've ever been, was during the Sydney Olympics. The feeling and the buzz around Sydney at the time was unbelievable. Everyone had a smile on their face and everyone was proud to be Australian because the world had been invited to that spectacle of the Olympics, and Australia had done such a good job in putting it together. I imagine it would have been the same in 1956, as it will be in 2032 in Brisbane.

The Olympics is humanity at its best, and that is something that should be celebrated and that we should be very proud of. Those Olympians we paid tribute to yesterday, and the fact that they came to Canberra with no bitterness, no animosity and no regret, symbolise that Olympic spirit, and that is something that they should be very, very proud of.

That is why it was appropriate that we, as a government, as a nation, welcomed them home finally after 45 years and said: 'Thank you. Thank you for representing Australia with pride and distinction. Thank you for being proud Australians and thank you for continuing the Olympic dream.'

Zali Steggall (Warringah, Independent) Share this | Link to 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.

Dan Repacholi (Hunter, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A couple do.

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

A couple of us do! There are prominent examples of the power of sport to unite and not divide us. Just at the last Olympics, during the Paris Games, the refugee Olympic team made up an independent Olympic participation because they can't compete for their own countries. It was so incredibly compelling to see that team compete without the kinds of resources and support the national teams get. Athletes compete independently, unable to represent their home countries due to conflict or displacement. But visibility for that refugee team is incredibly important. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Cindy Ngamba—I won't do justice to her name—a refugee from Cameroon, won the refugee team's very first medal, a bronze in the women's middleweight boxing. Now, that is historic and important.

We must continue to acknowledge the pain caused when politics interferes with sport. Athletes were let down when their moment of pride and achievement came in 1980 and was overshadowed by political decisions. We must ensure that never again athletes are asked to sacrifice their dreams for political purposes. I thank the Prime Minister for yesterday recognising the Australian Olympic Committee for their efforts in bringing together the 1980 Olympic team and celebrating those athlete in the way they deserve.

Dan Repacholi (Hunter, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yesterday was a very important day in the Olympic history of our nation. Forty-five years later, the team that represented our country at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow has been properly recognised—finally. The Prime Minister welcomed them into the parliament to officially give them the recognition they all deserve. We honoured their contributions, celebrated their athletic achievements and, importantly, recognised their pain. Representing Australia on the world stage is one of the greatest honours.

I was lucky enough to represent Australia at five Olympic Games. Each time, I was representing a country that was proud to be sending us off and cheering us on. The athletes were celebrated, and so too were their achievements.

I competed with the feeling that Australia was behind me. But this wasn't the case for the 1980 Olympians.

Following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the Australian government followed other nations, including the US, and publicly pressured the Australian Olympic Federation and our athletes to boycott the Moscow Olympic Games. Despite months of intense political and media pressure, the Australian Olympic Federation remained defiant and sent the team. What a great decision that was.

The politics of the time should not take away from the achievements of these athletes. Regardless of what was happening politically, it does not change the fact that these athletes of the 1980 Australian Olympic team had put in the work to get to the highest stage of their sporting careers. They dedicated their lives to their sport and achieved the ultimate goal of every athlete: representing their country on the Olympic stage. Not only should these athletes be recognised; but they should be celebrated, as all other Olympians are in this country.

To qualify for the Olympic Games, exceptional talent is only the start. It requires so much more than that. To perform at that level you need grit, character, courage, focus, years of hard work, absolute dedication and sacrifices from family, friends and loved ones. Athletes, their families and their teams spend a huge amount of time and energy in pursuit of trying to win in the Olympic Games or even just making an Olympic team.

When that effort pays off, you are selected to represent our great nation, don the green and gold and compete for Australia on the biggest sporting stage in the world. It should be a moment of pride and something you cherish for the rest of your life. When you walk into the opening ceremony at the Olympic Games behind the Australian flag, you should draw strength from knowing that the whole of Australia is with you. When you compete, you should feel that Australians of all sorts—from everyday punters watching at home to our leaders, our commentators and anyone in general—have your back and are all there watching you and cheering you on. On your return, you should be welcomed home and celebrated for the inspiration you have brought to the next generation of Australians.

The Australian government's boycott of the 1980 Olympics put our athletes in a terrible position. It unlocked a wave of public pressure to drop out of the games. Some of our athletes were only teenagers and, instead of being able to focus on their sport with the backing of their nation, they had to navigate abuse and pressure like no Olympians have had to navigate ever.

Ultimately, 121 athletes represented Australia, where they competed on the world stage and won this country nine Olympic gold medals. There was extraordinary achievement among those nine medals. Australians won their first gold medal with Michelle Ford winning in the women's 800-metre freestyle and also won gold in the 4 x 100-metre medley. These were Australia's first gold medals since the Munich Olympics of 1972. That's a very long drought, and not one that we want to achieve again, yet the returning athletes were not celebrated as heroes. Instead, they were given the cold shoulder or, worse, were treated like traitors, and it's absolutely disgusting that they went through that.

Yesterday in this place we did our bit to fix the historical record. Yesterday, on the 45th anniversary, we recognised all these amazing athletes' achievements and acknowledged that they were there, they were competing for our country and they did an amazing job. Thank you for going over and doing that. These Olympians should take pride in both their athletic achievement and the strength of character they had to stand up for themselves and their country and go and compete for their country.

There were also 17 people that actually didn't make it to an Olympic Games teams. To those 17 people I say sorry for all the hard work that you put in and all the sacrifices that you, your family members and your loved ones were put through for a sport that you loved and wanted to compete in at the highest stage. We recognise you and we are also standing with you on this day.

To the team of 1980: you are Olympians; you are great Australians; you have earned your place in the sporting history of our nation. You are an inspiration, and 45 years later we honour and welcome you home. Thank you for your strength, thank you for your courage and thank you for your Olympic spirit.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens in Los Angeles in 2028 and seeing our athletes competing over there. I'm getting ready for the next crop of Olympians to come through and for the amazing atmosphere that there will be in Brisbane in 2032.

It's going to be a spectacle like no other. It's going to make Sydney look like it was an amateur; I'm really looking forward to seeing it. That's a high bar to have. And I am from New South Wales, so it's a very high bar to have. The Sydney Olympics were amazing, and what Brisbane is going to do is outshine every other Olympics that has been had in the world. I'm really looking forward to seeing it.

To every Olympian out there: thank you for all your hard work and your dedication. To the families and friends of Olympians as well: you guys are the driving force behind us that gets us to wake up every day and make sure that we can go and compete at our best. For the training, dedication and time given by our coaches and all the support staff—everyone involved in making the Olympics happen—thank you, and remember: once an Olympian, always an Olympian. Cheers.

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have the unenviable task of following two Olympians! I will try and do that the best justice that I can. I'd also like to just bring a little bit of realism to the debate as well because, while ideally we would love sport to take place in a vacuum outside of the political landscape around it, sadly that's never going to be the case.

What we saw in 1979 in the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan was an event which led to the deaths of what is estimated to have been between one million and three million people. We saw an event which was very much an indication that the Cold War was still at its height and that the Soviets were still looking to expand their empire and to do everything they could to take the liberties, freedoms and democratic principles that we hold so dear away from people. It was under that cloud that very difficult decisions were taken as to whether our athletes, and also the athletes of many other countries, should go to the Moscow Olympics, because people had no doubt—no doubt whatsoever—that the Soviets would use the Olympics for their political purposes. If the Soviets weren't going to use the Olympics for their political purposes, you can understand that we would have had very different circumstances. But everything the Soviet Union did at that time was all about building their empire and trying to take liberties and freedoms away from countries right across the world. That's why difficult decisions had to be taken.

Those difficult decisions, which were taken by sporting organisations in this country and in other countries across the world, were taken by former Olympians. They were taken because they thought at the time that they were doing the right thing. I think it was important yesterday that we were able to acknowledge those who went and the treatment that they got, especially on their return, because no Australian deserves to be treated without respect. The fact that we were able to acknowledge that yesterday was incredibly important. It's also important, though, to recognise those who took the principled position not to attend, and some were of a very young age. Any who were forced to take a principled position, though—that doesn't sit easily with us.

So what we have to do is make sure that we understand the complexity with which these decisions were taken. Even though we can stand here today and say, 'This should never occur again,' I think we also have to understand the conflict there could be between us saying those words and the actual reality, because we could be faced with a situation like this again.

And I don't think any of us should underestimate that that could take place, because the sad reality is that trying to divorce life from sport and sport from life is nigh on impossible. We see that on a regular occurrence, even today. So what we have to do is make sure that we know and understand that what we always have to do is live with the ideal that we should always respect people, no matter the circumstances of the decisions that they've undertaken, especially when, ultimately, they're decisions of conscience.

We should treat the athletes who went and achieved the goal of being an Olympian with the respect they deserve. For those who didn't go, we should also acknowledge and respect the principles under which they took those decisions. To those who had to take those decisions, who had to put the geostrategic complexities of those times as part of the considerations that they took, to those Olympic sporting bodies who said yes or no—I say again there were Olympians who sat on those bodies. We need to acknowledge and understand the difficult decisions they had to take.

We've got to acknowledge and understand that, even though we would like these decisions to operate in a vacuum, that is never going to be the case. Human rights abuses, sadly, continue today, like they took place in 1979 and 1880. We also have to understand that, although the Olympic ideals are ideals that we would all love to see time and time again, especially when the Olympics take place, sadly there will be governments who will use the Olympics for political purposes. We cannot be blind to that.

I turn my attention, like the five-time Olympian before me did, to what's coming. We can all unite, rightly, with the two venues ahead of us. Los Angeles is coming up. And, to all those young Australians who are trying to qualify, who are trying to represent their country at the Los Angeles Olympics: I wish you all the best. There are young people in my electorate who are striving to represent our nation in Los Angeles and then in Brisbane. I hope your dreams and your desires come to fulfilment. Nothing would give me greater joy than to see you representing our country at those Olympics.

To everyone who is working tirelessly and hard and dedicating themself to try and be part of our team for the Brisbane Olympics: good luck. Representing your country at a home Olympics seems, to me, an outsider but a sport lover, like the greatest thing that you could ever achieve. We all saw that with Cathy Freeman in the Sydney Olympics. We hope that there are more Cathy Freemans when it comes to the Brisbane Olympics.

To all of those—and we shouldn't forget this—who have the huge task of making sure that the Brisbane Olympics are the greatest Olympics of all time, because that is the ideal—

Honourable Member:

An honourable member interjecting—

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That's the ideal. Sydney was the greatest at that time, and Melbourne in '56 at that time was the greatest Olympics of all time. But we have to strive to make sure that we can say at the end of the Brisbane Olympics that it was the greatest Olympics of all time. Although we have had New South Wales and, before that, Victoria, when it comes to the Olympics, we should be able to put state of origin behind us and we should be able to all join together and say that we hope Brisbane does us proud.

But let's not underestimate that that is going to take a power of work, a power of planning, and all of us coming together at the federal level, the state level and the local government to make sure that those facilities and all of the organisation that goes around it is absolutely world-class.