Harvey Norman

The Australian Olympic Committee has welcomed Harvey Norman as an official partner of the Australian Olympic Team for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

This new partnership will see Harvey Norman support Australian athletes competing at the world’s biggest sporting event.

AOC CEO Matt Carroll welcomed Harvey Norman to the Olympic Partner family.

"The AOC is thrilled to have Harvey Norman on board as an Australian Olympic Team Partner,” Mr Carroll said.

“Harvey Norman have been great supporters of sport and athletes over many years, so it’s great to welcome them to our partner family from corporate Australia, supporting Australian athletes to achieve their Olympic dreams in Paris and beyond.

“Olympians have been preparing for these Games over many years, aiming to represent Australia with pride and they bring incredible stories of perseverance and achievement to Australians.

“With less than a year until the Australian Team takes part in a unique Opening Ceremony along the River Seine in Paris, it’s an exciting time for the Olympic movement in Australia.

“Thank you to the entire Harvey Norman team, we look forward to building a special partnership with you,” Mr Carroll concluded.

Katie Page CEO, Harvey Norman, “Today we announce our new partnership with the Australian Olympic Team as our athletes prepare for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, and we announce the renewal of our 3-year partnership with the Australian Paralympic Team for a further 2 years.

“Announcing our partnerships with both our national teams simultaneously is what Harvey Norman is all about – to support and celebrate our Australian athletes competing at the highest level, representing our country, across the broadest range of sports.

“The Olympic and Paralympic Games are unrivalled platforms for recognising individual athletic brilliance, national celebration of team achievement and inspiring future athletes to believe what is possible, often in less prominent sports.

“Gerry and I are here today on behalf of the entire Harvey Norman team. Together, we are fans of every sport and every athlete. We know if you are selected onto our Olympic and Paralympic teams you are the best of the best. Your path to selection has been tough. There were times you thought too tough. You will forever be Olympians and Paralympians – an accomplishment few will ever achieve and one that can never be diminished. In our support of you, we ask you to share your stories.

“The stories from long before you were selected, back when the Olympic or Paralympic Games first became your dream. If we can achieve anything in our partnerships, it is to support the creation of more dreams and bring more Olympic and Paralympic dreams to life,” Ms Page concluded.

Harvey Norman has supported Ariarne Titmus since 2020, long before she was a household name. She shares when her Olympic ambition began.

“Growing up in Launceston I always had a pool in my backyard and grew up around the water. I remember loving the water and racing my Dad from a very young age.

“I learned to swim from six months old and school swimming from age five at the same pool where I first began club swimming. I have always loved being competitive and swimming against my school mates even before swimming in a squad. I feel grateful that I had the exposure to swimming at such a young age, otherwise I may never have had the itch to take it up competitively.

“When I was seven, I joined the local swimming club down the road and began training in a squad and racing in the eight and underage group. This was around the same time as the Beijing Olympics, and I clearly remember watching it on tv and dreaming of being there one day. From that point, swimming was always my number one.

“My life has certainly changed a lot since then, but my love for the sport has never wavered. However, swimming is a tough sport and I feel blessed to have partnered with brands like Harvey Norman throughout my swimming career.

“Without their support, there is no way I’d be able to prioritise my career as an athlete and dedicate myself to my sport to ensure I’m competitive on the world stage,” Ariarne concluded.

Harvey Norman Brand Ambassador, Jye Edwards, an Olympic middle-distance runner who also shares his Olympic journey.

“As a typical Aussie kid growing up on the south coast of NSW, I tried my hand at a range of sports across the years. Whilst I enjoyed most of them in their own way, nothing came close to my love of running which I figured out quite early on.

“Friday evenings in the summer were spent down at our local Little Athletics club, which quickly became a staple in the Edwards household. I started competing at around 6 years of age and would tag along to running training with my older siblings until I was old enough to train properly.

“Some of my most treasured childhood memories came from weekends away at regional carnivals around NSW, competing and spending time with close friends who I still have to this day. I feel incredibly blessed to have been given so many opportunities growing up, and I’m so thankful to my parents for allowing me to fall in love with sport so I can enjoy a healthy and happy lifestyle.

“I can vividly remember watching every Olympic Games on the TV during my childhood, with my earliest recollection being Beijing in 2008. The thought of one day being able to compete on the world stage against the best runners in the world felt absolutely ridiculous, but I knew this is what I wanted to strive for. There was nothing that could dampen my belief of one day getting to the top, which I still carry to this day.

“Running is a tough sport. I’ve enjoyed many highs along my journey, but also some incredibly dark lows that have been tough to navigate. Thankfully, I have an unbelievable support team behind me every step of the way. I feel exceptionally fortunate to be a Harvey Norman Brand Ambassador and have their support leading into the Paris 2024 Olympics. Having the freedom to prioritise my running career as a professional athlete wouldn’t be possible without their unwavering support, so for this I am forever grateful,” Jye concluded.

The partnership with Harvey Norman will assist the AOC to send three Teams to Games in the next two years.

• 2023 Australian Pacific Games Team (Solomon Islands)
• 2024 Australian Winter Youth Olympic Team (Gangwon 2024)
• 2024 Australian Olympic Team (Paris 2024)

Olympians who attended the launch:
Ariarne Titmus – Swimming
Sally Fitzgibbons – Surfing
Tess Madgen – Basketball
Maurice Longbottom - Rugby 7s

Plus:
Jeff Dunne - Breaking