Why we need Fair Play in Para-sports
We believe that a person with disability who wants to play sport should be able to participate.
This is Fair Play for All.
Emilie Miller was a natural athlete. She had already been competing nationally in swimming until one day, at training, she slipped off the diving block.
The accident left her with a quadriplegic spinal injury at the age of 12. But her sporting spirit remained. She returned to swimming post-injury using hand cycling as cross-training which she “really enjoyed and saw [as] something that I want to pursue.”
Emilie’s passion led her to not only be chosen for the Australian Para-cycling Team, but to go on to win gold medals at the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships in 2018 and 2019 and now be apart of the reigning world championship wheelchair Rugby team.
“I was really lucky to have some athletes around me who were able to support me through getting involved and set me up with equipment and the rest was history from there.”
Unfortunately, that’s not the case for every Para-athlete – budding or existing. Only 1 in 4 people with disability are playing sport, while 3 in 4 of them WANT to, but can’t access it.
Even when they have access, there are SO many challenges to overcome for our Para-athletes. And it’s not fair.
What barriers do Para-athletes face?
Only 1 in 4 people with disability are playing sport while 3 in 4 of them want to but can’t access it.
Para-athletes incur extra costs for their sport equipment, which in many cases must be customised.
Athletes with disability often require accessible transport and travel – which requires more time and expense.
Para-athletes also need to fund the support staff or guides who needs to travel and compete with them.
Para-athletes just simply don’t get the same sponsorship opportunities as able-bodied athletes.
The Paralympics don’t get the same level of support from spectators and home-viewers as other Elite sports.
It was only thanks to an online petition that let to medalists at the Tokyo Paralympics Games receiving rewards.
Even if they do get access, Para-athletes have less access to coaches and training facilities in general.
Imagine Fair Play for All
That’s our vision. Where every Para-athlete who wants to play sport, can. Where Para-athletes are shown the same support and have access to the same resources as able-bodied athletes.
“It's very big in our Australian culture to be a part of a sporting team and to be able to be involved in sport. And for me, that's exactly the same (as a Para-athlete). I get to be a part of a team and work towards setting goals and pursuing them.” - Emilie
Emilie is already a gold medal world champion cyclist, and now has her sights set on Paris 2024 as part of the Australian Steelers wheelchair rugby team. And she’s all for creating a fair playing field for everyone.
“I think there’s been a massive shift in Para-sport in terms of the attention over the last few years. I would like to see equal opportunity for Paralympic sports.
Everyone's still doing the same amount of training and Para-athletes deserve to be supported just as able-bodied athletes do to be able to achieve at their level as well.”
-Emilie
Will you speak up for your Australian Paralympic Team? Help spread the word.
One of the key steps towards creating fair play for all is to raise awareness and get more people speaking up about the inequality faced by your Para-athletes.
Share this information to help us spread the word about the many challenges faced by Para-athletes.
Let’s start levelling the playing field today.
