More than 30 Olympians and Paralympians joined distinguished guests including Noosa sporting icon, eight-time Olympic medallist Dawn Fraser at Maroochydore Surf Club Monday night to celebrate the 40th anniversary welcome home for Olympians and Paralympians.
Among the guests were local politicians, former Brisbane Lord Mayor Sallyanne Atkinson who led the Brisbane bid for the 1992 Olympics, a move attributed to gaining the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, members of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and several Sunshine Coast Olympians from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Master of Ceremonies sports broadcaster John McCoy and 1980 Moscow Olympic boxer Benny Pike who initiated welcome home celebrations in 1984 presented awards to 2024 Paris Games Olympians and Paralympians, their chef de mission, coaches and support staff at the Sunshine Coast Region 2032 Sport Legacy Taskforce-hosted event.
When Benny Pike returned from the Moscow Olympics in 1980 there was no welcome at all for returning athletes.
Benny decided “that’s not good enough, we have to do something more” so in 1984 five Sunshine Coast athletes were welcomed home.
The committee this year decided his efforts couldn’t go unheralded, presenting him with a special award.
Benny said in 1984 the Sunshine Coast was the first region to welcome home its Olympic and Paralympic athletes and it’d “been a pleasure to be involved”.
The Sunshine Coast 2024 Paris Games list included Olympic athletes Peyton Craig, Ella Connolly, canoeists Alyce Wood, Aly Bull, Ally Clarke, cyclist Kristina Clonan, Rugby 7 player Dominique Du Toit, open water swimmers Chelsea Gubecka, Nick Sloman, swimmers Kyle Chalmers, Isaac Cooper, Sam Short, Lani Pallister, Abbey Connor, Alexandria Perkins, Zac Incerti, Jamie Perkins, Kaylee McKeown, skateboarder Haylie Powell, water-polo player Nic Porter.
Para-athletes included cyclist Korey Boddington, paratriathlete Grace Brimelow, swimmers Brendon Hall, Emily Beecroft, Ricky Betar, Jenna Jones, Lakeisha Patterson, Alexa Leary, Callum Simpson, Benjamin Hence, Ruby Storm, wheelchair rugby players Beau Vernon, Emilie Miller, Ryley Batt, Chris Bond.
Special presentations on the night included the Clint Robinson Best Sunshine Coast Olympic Performance Trophy which was awarded to Gold Medal swimmer Kaylee McKeown who has been named Swimmer of the Year. The award was accepted by her mother Sharon who urged people in appreciating how much work they do to support the athletes whether they come first or last.
The Brendan Burkett Best Sunshine Coast Paralympic Performance Trophy was presented to Paralympic Gold and Silver medallist Callum Simpson.
Athletes were humble in receiving their awards and thanked supporters and family members for helping them achieve their success.
Callum Simpson summed it up his experience saying, “It’s been amazing. I can’t wait for LA,” he said.
Sallyanne Atkinson told the audience it should be no surprise the Sunshine Coast was home to such sporting excellence with greater interest expected with the approaching 2032 Brisbane Games.
“Just look at this beautiful land, it’s absolutely made for growing wonderful sports and wonderful achievers,” she said.
Ms Atkinson said while her Brisbane bid for the 1992 Games came in third after Paris to Barcelona it gave the country the confidence to keep going, resulting in the 2000 Sydney Games.
“We were always waiting,” she said. “We always knew Brisbane and South-East Queensland would get the Games.
“It’s a wonderful experience the Olympics. The Olympic spirit is something that really does raise a country.”
