Olympians in outback WA
The outback communities in the Kimberley region of Western Australia may seem a world away from the athletics track of the Tokyo National Stadium or the steep ice of the Beijing Sliding Centre. But on the courts and fields from Kununurra to Wyndham, Olympians Nina Kennedy (Pole Vault) and Nick Timmings (Skeleton) shared their Olympic journeys with more than 350 community members.
Visiting six communities across 900 kilometres in three days, Nick and Nina connected with locals to inspire them to chase their own passions.
Harnessing the power of sport for social inclusion
Olympians and Paralympians shared their insights on the power of sport to promote social inclusion as part of the AOC’s Wellbeing Series, presented by Allianz.
Olympians Peter Bol, Casey Dellacqua and Hannah Davis, with Paralympian Madison de Rozario, discussed how sport has impacted their own wellbeing and sense of inclusion, under the theme of #TackleTogether.
Dual Olympian Peter Bol came to Australia as an eight-year-old, after his family fled war in Sudan. Peter credits sport as a crucial element in creating a home in his adopted country of Australia.
“When I first came to Australia, sport helped me fit into the culture, to understand it a lot more,” Peter said. “I could express myself through sport, even when I couldn’t speak the language - sport was my universal language.”
Find out more here or watch the full forum above.
Olympic-sized thank you to teachers
Olympians joined in celebrating the incredible work of teachers as part of World Teachers’ Day 2022.
Sharing messages to teachers who have had a memorable impact on their lives, Olympians paid tribute to the inspiring work teachers do each and every day through their school communities.
As a special thanks, teachers can also register to win an Olympian visit to their school as part of World Teachers’ Day celebrations.
Unleashed milestones and hometown homecomings
October saw some special Olympics Unleashed visits across the country.
Olympic hockey player Greta Hayes visited Kanahooka High School in Wollongong, marking the 600th school visit in NSW with Olympics Unleashed.
In Queensland, dual Olympian Deb Acason returned to the Saints weightlifting club, which she founded.
Around 300km west of Brisbane, Deb shared her Olympic journey with the young weightlifters, who may be eyeing off their own Olympic dream for Brisbane 2032.
