2012 WA Paralympic team farewelled

• 36 days to go till the London Paralympic Games

• 17 West Australians part of the largest Australian Paralympic Team ever

• Competing in athletics, cycling, powerlifting, sailing, swimming, wheelchair basketball (men's and women's)

The Western Australian contingent of the Australian Paralympic Team to compete at the London 2012 Summer Paralympic Games was officially farewelled today.

Set to contest 13 sports, the Australian team will consist of 161 athletes and 140 officials, the largest team Australia has ever sent to any Paralympic Games.

Representing Sport and Recreation Minister Terry Waldron, Disability Services Minister Helen Morton wished 12 of the 17 WA Paralympians attending the games good luck at a gathering at the WA Basketball Centre. Fourteen of these athletes are supported by the West Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS).

"Like all West Australians, I wish these athletes every success and look forward to seeing them compete in front of the whole world, in London," Mrs Morton said.

"We are very proud of our Paralympic team and individual athletes, I know how hard they have trained and prepared."

Reigning world and Paralympic champion men's basketball team, the Rollers, features four West Australians, including three-time Paralympian Justin Eveson and captain Brad Ness.

Powerlifter Darren Gardiner is also at his fourth Paralympics, and is looking to improve on his silver medals at Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008).

Eighteen-year-old Madison de Rozario will compete in her second Paralympics for Australia in athletics. Madison won a silver medal at Beijing when she was only 14 years old, and the youngest Australian to compete in the 2008 Paralympics.

"The Paralympic Games is unrivalled as the pinnacle of sport for these athletes and next month we will see the games return to London where the Paralympic movement started, in 1948," the Minister said.

Athletes will depart for the games from the end of July, with many training at the APC's camp in Cardiff during August before the games begin on August 29. 

      Fact File

• More than 4,200 athletes from 165 countries competing over 11 days at London Paralympics

• Australia has collected 989 medals since competing in its first Paralympic Games (Summer and Winter), finishing in the top 5 nations at all games since Atlanta 1996

• Expected global audience in excess of three billion will watch the games

• West Australians selected:

Athletics: Madison de Rozario           

Cycling: Nigel Barley

Powerlifting: Darren Gardiner - Not at farewell launch

Sailing: Colin Harrison

Swimming: Katherine Downie and Jeremy McLure

Wheelchair Basketball: Justin Eveson, Michael Hartnett, Brad Ness and Shaun Norris

Wheelchair Basketball: Amber Merritt, Clare Nott and Sarah Vinci

 

Interstate WA Athletes (4)                              

Swimming: Katrina Porter

Athletics: Brad Scott, Sam Harding and Damien Bowen

Minister's office - 6552 6900