Special Olympics Australia National Games

Mr TEAGUE (Heysen) (15:03): My question is to the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing. Can the minister update the house on the success of the Special Olympics national games held in Adelaide in April?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:03): I thank the member for Heysen for his question. He is doing a stellar job for his local community. I know he is very interested in this, and I thank him for his interest. It was with great pleasure that I was part of the Special Olympics national games, and it was a great event for South Australia from 16 April—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left will remain quiet while the minister gives his answer.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —to 20 April this year. It was a great opportunity to showcase the talent, skills, dedication and achievements of nearly 1,000 athletes with an intellectual disability. It was the second time that Adelaide had successfully hosted the games, after it hosted the games in 2010. Athletes travelled from all parts of Australia to partake in 11 sports.

Before it actually started, there was the law enforcement torch relay in collaboration with the South Australia Police and the Special Olympics. This was a great moment in itself. It kicked off at the Marion aquatic centre, where the STAR Group was called in to carry the torch through the water, if you can believe it. It was a wonderful sight and great to have that part of SAPOL involved with this wonderful event. I know that everyone watching was quite amazed at how the torch went through the water, and everyone was suitably impressed, as you would understand.

It was my great pleasure and honour to have my first official speaking function at the opening of the Special Olympics this year. I know that the member for Hurtle Vale was there as well. I saw her. She was upstairs for the canapés and drinks beforehand, and she was there for the start of the ceremony as well. As I said, it was my great pleasure to be able to have the opportunity to formally speak and say a few words.

I'm not sure if the member was still there when I finished —she might have left early—but I would like to just let her and the chamber know that one of the things I pointed out in my speech, which I think was really evident and summed up these games as I looked out upon the audience, was the thousand smiles that came back from the people who were partaking in these games; it was worth a gazillion dollars, it really was. The look of joy on their face when they were going to compete in these games was absolutely outstanding, and it was something that will last with me for a very long time.

I was lucky enough to go to some events as well. In fact, the Premier and I went to the swimming at the SA aquatic centre, and we both got to present some medals to some of the winners. He did the gold—he's the Premier. I did the silver, and I got lucky because a South Australian athlete, Danah Gobbett, won the silver medal. Again, I put the metal around her neck, and the smile on her face and the joy with which she glowed is one of the greatest moments I've ever witnessed in sport. It's wonderful what sport can do from an inclusion point of view. This event, as I said, and this moment were absolutely outstanding.

The other great part of the event, for anyone else who got to go along (and I know a colleague, the member for Boothby, was at the gymnastics) was when these athletes finished—in our case, getting out of the pool. They will give you a hug, they will give you a high five, and again the smiles are just to die for. I would like to congratulate everyone that was involved in the Special Olympics.

Jehad Rasheed is the Chair of the Special Olympics National Games board. Again, I commend the member for Hurtle Vale for her involvement because it is absolutely outstanding. Sponsors as well are a big part of these events. I know that NAB were the major sponsor, and they helped contribute to the some 900 volunteers who took part in this event. A big thank you to all those volunteers. They were outstanding. Part of that volunteer group was, in fact, the former New South Wales premier Mike Baird, who was there again probably leading the charge on the high-fives and the hugs.

A big thankyou to everyone, but to the athletes in particular. They were outstanding. It was a true pleasure to be involved in this event. I think it is one of the most significant things and one of the most joyous things that I've had to do in this house and a great duty for the whole thing.

Time expired.