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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-10-26 Daily Xml
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COMMONWEALTH GAMES

Mr BIGNELL (Mawson) (15:18): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier tell the house about the achievements of South Australian athletes at the recent 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi?

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (15:18): I am pleased to answer the member's question as someone who used to be a sports journalist in this state.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. M.D. RANN: I am nursing a sports injury at the moment. The 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games proved to be a great showcase for many of the world's elite athletes, as well as for India as a whole. Despite a few anxious moments in the lead-up to the event, the games proceeded without incident and Australian athletes took the opportunity to shine. In fact, I met with the Chief Minister of Delhi shortly before the event and Sheila told me that she expected it to go off as well as it did.

In particular, our 22 South Australian athletes must be congratulated for the outstanding results they achieved. An impressive 13 South Australians returned home from the Delhi games with medals. That is more than half the entire squad of athletes from our state. Three South Australians broke Commonwealth Games records and swimmer Matthew Cowdrey broke a world record. Cyclist Anna Meares dominated on the track, with a clean sweep of three gold medals in the women's sprint events, breaking the Commonwealth Games record in the 500 metres time trial.

Endurance cyclist Jack Bobridge demonstrated the impressive form that made him the 2008 under 23 men's road time trial world champion by winning gold in the 400 metres individual pursuit and clocking a new Commonwealth Games record time. Jack and fellow South Australian Dale Parker also won gold in the 400 metres team pursuit. There are so many members on this side who are—I would not call them elite—athletes in terms of cycling, and I know they would be very proud of their fellow athletes.

Gymnast Sam Offord backed up his gold medal on the rings at the recent Pacific Rim Championships in Melbourne, with a gold on the rings and a gold in the team event at the Commonwealth Games. In the pool, there was no more inspirational effort than Matthew Cowdrey's gold-medal swim in the 50 metres freestyle. Despite the difficult conditions, Matthew also managed to break his own world record, which was a fantastic effort.

Also in the pool, Sophie Edington broke the Commonwealth Games record in the 50 metres backstroke, while fellow backstroker, Hayden Stoeckel took silver in the men's 50 metres backstroke before, unfortunately, being forced to withdraw from further competition due to a stomach illness.

Walker Claire Tallent took a silver medal in the 20 kilometres walk and, in one of the most poignant moments of the games, was congratulated by her husband and training partner, Jarred, who had just won a gold medal.

Three South Australians—Natalie Von Bertouch, Natalie Medhurst and Lauren Nourse—brought home a silver medal for Australia in the netball. The Diamonds versus Silver Ferns final will go down as one of the greatest contests in netball history, going to double extra time, only to see New Zealand take the gold.

Badminton player Kate Wilson-Smith, at her fourth Commonwealth Games, broke the 12-year medal drought for Australian badminton with her bronze medal in the women's doubles. In the shooting—and I know we also have shooters on this side of the house—Mid North farmer David Chapman claimed bronze in the pairs 25 metres rapid-fire pistol. South Australia performed particularly well in cycling, contributing significantly to the team membership and providing more than its share of the medals.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: I am told that the names Jack Bobridge and Dale Parker, in particular, are the ones to watch out for in London in 2012. We are also hopeful that Jack will once again line up for the 2011 Santos Tour Down Under, alongside Lance Armstrong. South Australia continues to be a focal point for cycling excellence in Australia. We are proud to host the AIS Track Cycling program at the Adelaide Superdrome and are delighted with the partnership and support received from the SASI Cycling program and the sports science team.

South Australia has also produced some of our nation's finest swimming talent, and I have no doubt that the imminent completion and opening of the new world-class State Aquatic Centre at Marion will provide a world-class environment to provide a massive impetus to our high-performance swimming programs.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

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