Speeches
Wednesday, 28 May 2025
Reception for the 2025 Santos Wheelchair Rugby World Challenge
Rod and I are delighted to welcome you all to Government House to celebrate the inaugural Santos Wheelchair Rugby World Challenge being held here in Adelaide.
We particularly welcome those athletes who are here from interstate and overseas.
We trust you will enjoy your time in our wonderful city, although I know many of you will be concentrating on your competitions.
Having seen wheelchair rugby courtside here in Adelaide and on the television during the Paris Paralympics, I can attest that from a spectator point of view, wheelchair rugby is fast, furious, tough, and spectacular. “Brutal” also comes to mind.
At times I gasped with amazement at the clashes and the skilful, tactical ball play. And I must admit that at times I had to look away. But I came to appreciate that you know what you are doing!
It was evident that the athletes were putting themselves on the line, individually and as a team, to achieve and putting their abilities into play at the highest level. The words courageous and fearless readily come to mind!
I am sure that throughout the Wheelchair Rugby World Challenge and the companion National Championships, we will see the hunger to win alongside friendly rivalry.
Sport brings us together, as events such as this demonstrate.
Through sport, as athletes, you have overcome aversity, trained with passion, and built confidence.
It is a powerful way to heal. You constantly demonstrate grit, determination, and team spirit.
Of course, it is a matter of some pride here that the Australian Steelers are Paralympic bronze medallists and are ranked as number two in the world.
And they will be playing on home soil for the first time since 2018.
Naturally, we look forward to the international teams from Canada, Germany, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Brazil and South Korea, along with state teams, making up a strong field.
Rod and I thank everyone behind the athletes: family, friends, coaches, sports administrators, volunteers, donors, and supporters. You are part of their village.
I thank the South Australian officials who will run these events at the Netball SA stadium, and those who will ensure the athletes are transported between their hotels and the stadium.
South Australia is well known for staging major events professionally and this will be the largest wheelchair rugby event in the world, to be held here for two years.
I hope that events such as this will boost the profile of Wheelchair Rugby, particularly as it will be televised, and more than 900 school children will attend.
Rod is certainly looking forward to going on Friday national games.
To the athletes, congratulations on your selection in your respective teams and representing your countries and our states.
Your talents on display during the challenge can only raise the profile of this exciting sport.
I wish you all well in competition. May you all keep “rolling strong”.