Welcome home for Australian Paralympic team on 11 October

Queensland will welcome home our 2016 Australian Paralympic team at King George Square, Brisbane on 11 October from 12:30 pm.

The celebration, co-hosted by the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council, will feature an opportunity to meet your Paralympian heroes in person at a public signing, a presentation of the Australian Paralympic athletes plus a performance by local crooner and star of the We’re the Superhumans video, Tony Dee.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she is proud of our Paralympian heroes and honoured to be welcoming them home.

“Congratulations to all the athletes, you are an inspiration to each and every one of us and you should be incredibly proud of your achievements,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Representing Australia at the Games requires a huge amount of determination, dedication and embodiment of the true Australian spirit.

“Those unique qualities shine through all of you and you have made Australia proud.

“I look forward to honouring our 2016 Paralympian heroes and encourage everyone to join in the celebrations at the Welcome Home event on Tuesday 11 October,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Outstanding results were achieved at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games with 22 Gold, 30 Silver and 29 Bronze medals won by the Australian team.  Queensland athletes took out 27 of these medals—eight Gold, nine Silver and 10 Bronze.

Amongst our winning athletes was 28 year old Gold Coast resident and former Australian Army combat engineer Curtis McGrath, who lost both his legs in Afghanistan in 2012. McGrath won the KL2 200m sprint in the para-canoes Paralympic Games debut on day eight of competition, as well as carrying the Australian flag during the closing ceremony.

“People come to the Games and win medals, but very, very few people come here and get to carry their nation’s flag at a closing or opening ceremony,” Mr McGrath said.

As co-host of the event, Lord Mayor Graham Quirk is inviting Brisbane residents and sports fans to show their colours and welcome the athletes home in green and gold.

“All of our Paralympians showed us just what can be achieved through a combination of hard work, talent and dedication,” Cr Quirk said.

“Competing in the Paralympics is an enormous achievement and these athletes deserve the city’s highest honour of receiving the Keys to the City.

 “The Paralympic Team includes some of Brisbane’s greatest athletes and I encourage all residents to show their Team Brisbane spirit and join us in celebrating their achievements,” Cr Quirk said.

The welcome home celebration will be held at King George Square with a public signing opportunity with the athletes from 12.30 pm, followed by the official welcome home celebration at 1 pm, hosted by the Premier and Lord Mayor Graham Quirk.

For further information www.qld.gov.au/about/newsroom/paralympics/