“Heureux qui, comme Ulysse, a fait un beau voyage” – “Happy is he who, like Ulysses, has made a beautiful journey,” runs the first line of a famous French poem. Canberra’s ACT Olympians, along with soon-to-return Paralympians, have made such a journey, returning from France covered in glory and bedecked in laurels. Australia celebrated its best-ever gold medal haul at the Olympics, with one of those golds won by Canberran pole vaulter Nina Kennedy.

To honour these athletes, a special ceremony will be held at Floriade on Tuesday, 17 September, at Stage 88, starting at 12.30pm.

The event will feature a Q&A session with Canberra’s Olympic and Paralympic champions, and plenty of opportunities for autographs and photos with our athletes.

Further details will be placed on the Floriade website closer to the date.

“Canberra is a sporting community that comes together to support our athletes and teams,” Chief Minister Andrew Barr said. “We are proud of their performances at the Olympics, and we will be cheering on our Paralympians now that the Paralympics has started.

“Canberrans are invited to come out to Floriade and show our athletes our appreciation. “This is a great opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge all their hard work and dedication, to thank and congratulate them on their performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Teams.”

Minister for Sport and Recreation Yvette Berry said: “This has been an incredible year for Australian sport with our most successful Olympics ever. Canberra was well represented with our local athletes doing us proud.

“I’d like to wish ACT Paralympians and the entire Australian team the best of luck as they compete in the Paris Paralympic Games, where we know they will have outstanding success also.”

“We look forward to welcoming our athletes home at Floriade in September. This is a chance to celebrate and acknowledge all their hard work and dedication, to thank and congratulate them on their performance at the Games and their representation in the Australian 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Teams.”

The ACT Olympic and Paralympic Training Assistance athlete support program, administered by the ACT Government via the ACT Academy of Sport, provides financial assistance towards the costs of preparing for team selection.

024 ACT Olympic and Paralympic Training Assistance – Grant Recipients