July was a massive month for sharing the Olympic spirit throughout Australia! From the launch of the 10-year Green & Gold Runway to Brisbane 2032 with communities having a go at Olympic sport, to a special Olympics Unleashed milestone, and Olympians sharing their stories with young Australians from the Torres Strait to Tamworth, July was filled with fantastic community spirit.
Olympic spirit in the Torres Strait
Olympians shared the Olympic spirit at the top of Australia, with a special NAIDOC week trip to the Torres Strait.
Six Olympians, four Indigenous Olympian Coaching Scholarship coaches and members of the Royal Australian Air Force helped run a community basketball day and BBQ for more than 50 Torres Strait children and their families, as well as a special Olympics Unleashed milestone.
Olympics Unleashed passed 250,000 milestone
The NAIDOC week Olympics Unleashed visit with 50 students in Thursday Island created a remarkable milestone, with 250,000 students across the country having taken part in the program.
Yuin woman and racewalker Beki Smith (London 2012) and Dunghutti boxer Brad Hore (Sydney 2000, Athens 2004) shared their Olympic journey with Torres Strait students, sharing their own Olympic journey and how it can help the kids achieve their own goals.
The 250,000 milestone has come from 1,885 school visits, with more than 250 Olympians trained to deliver the program around the country. It also includes 25,000 students who received virtual Olympics Unleashed visits during lockdowns in 2020 and 2021.
Olympic ‘Walk With Us’ forum celebrated Indigenous achievements
The AOC has held its second ‘Walk with Us’ forum to cap off NAIDOC Week, celebrating Australia’s 60 known Indigenous Olympians and acknowledging Australia’s Indigenous Olympic history and achievements.
Indigenous Olympians Patrick Johnson, Beki Smith, Danny Morseu and Kyle van der Kuyp were joined by AOC CEO Matt Carroll, AOC Athletes’ Commission members Kenny Wallace and Greta Small along with Director of From the Heart Dean Parkin in an open panel session at Meta Headquarters in Barangaroo, Sydney.
The panellists explored the theme of ‘Walking Together’ split into three yarns - Leaving Footprints, Creating Footprints and Future Footprints to discuss where the Australian Olympic movement has come from, current projects and future opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
10-year Green & Gold Runway to Brisbane 2032 launched
More than 10,000 South East Queenslanders shared in the celebration to mark the start of the 10-year Green & Gold Runway until the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Saturday 23 July was exactly 10 years until the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Opening Ceremony – and community members celebrated by joining Olympians and Paralympians in having a go at a range of Olympic and Paralympic sports across Queensland.
Check out all the action below.
#HaveAGo Month and Brisbane 2032 Digital Time Capsule
In the month between Olympic Day on 23 June and to the start of the Green & Gold Runway on 23 July, young Australians got involved in the Olympic movement in a number of ways.
Throughout the month, thousands of Australians tried their hand at different Olympic sports, tracking their progress and sharing their experience.
Young Aussies also shared how they want to be a part of Brisbane 2032, submitting videos of their goals for how to be involved in the Brisbane Games to the Brisbane 2032 Digital Time Capsule.
Check out one of our time capsule entries below and submit yours here.
Tokyo Olympians joined the fun at National Primary Games
Tokyo Olympians Jess Pickering, Keesja Gofers and Dominic Clarke joined more than a thousand students at the National Primary Games in Tamworth.
The festival of sport for children aged 8 to 14 featured two days of sporting activity, including football and gymnastics.
“Here in Tamworth we want to help inspire kids to stay involved in sport, have fun and work towards any goal they have,” said Tokyo 2020 trampolinist Dominic Clarke. “Watching these amazing young gymnasts have such a great time brings me back to my first competitions which ignited my love for the sport.”
Australian Olympians received grants from the World Olympians Association
Olympians Rachael Lynch and Selina Scoble each received grants from the World Olympians Association (WOA) for separate projects to promote Olympic values.
Hockey player Rachael Lynch will deliver coaching clinics and face-to-face mentoring for young women across Australia, with a particular focus on rural areas, while volleyballer Selina Scoble has developed message bracelets that promote motivation, inspiration and happiness – each handmade bracelet containing a mantra to assist personal mindsets.
Australian Olympic Change-Maker student nominations
Australian Olympic Change-Maker nominations continued to fly in, as schools nominate students to be rewarded for demonstrating the Olympic spirit in their communities.
From major projects to small acts of positivity, we have seen the impact youth can have on their communities and schools are taking the opportunity to recognise these inspirational students.
High school teachers can nominate students now until Friday 26 August – find out more and nominate your Australian Olympic Change-Makers here.
