Paris 2024 Messages from the CEO

Day 11

Kia ora and bonjour from Paris.

Well, what a way to finish competition, with a Bronze medal from newly numbered Paralympian #231 Peter Cowan, in the Va’a Single 200m VL3 event, the last event at Paris 2024 for the NZ Paralympic Team. Congratulations also to Paralympian #198 Scott Martlew who contested the B Final, placing 12th overall in the same event.

That brings the total medal tally for the NZ Paralympic Team to 1 Gold, 4 Silver and 4 Bronze. But the achievement and results for our Team extend beyond the medals. Aside from countless fourth place finishes and Finals appearances, our Team were able to set between them, one Paralympic record, four Oceania records, 11 national records and 12 personal best performances as well as countless season bests performances at Paris 2024. Some great outcomes for a Team of 24 Paralympians competing on the field of play.

On behalf of the entire PNZ Team, a huge congratulations to every member of the NZ Paralympic Team for representing Aotearoa New Zealand with pride, distinction and sportspersonship! You have truly done us all proud.

It was great also to share time earlier in the day with Peter and Scott’s families, flying the flag for New Zealand out at the Para canoe course. I have really enjoyed being able to meet and connect with all of the family and friends over in Paris, and lose my voice cheering on with you for your individual members of our NZ Paralympic Team. For those I didn’t manage to connect with, your presence and support for the Team is equally valued and acknowledged. Quite simply, our NZ Paralympic Team had one of the best support crews in Paris. Maybe the local French supporters just edged us out (purely on a volume and proximity to Paris basis!).

With competition over, there was just one thing left to do at the Games, as delegations from all National Paralympic Committees descended on Stade de France for the official Closing Ceremony.

The Closing Ceremony picked up where the Opening Ceremony had started the Games – athletes at the centre, stylish with some personality, and celebrating the incredible 11 days of competition in between.

How good was it to see Paralympians #208 William Stedman and #222 Nicole Murray, both Paralympic medalists at Paris 2024, proudly carrying the New Zealand flag into the stadium on behalf of the entire NZ Paralympic Team, after earlier being selected by their peers.

Despite rain falling at the start of the ceremony, the party kicked off early and there were multi-nation conga lines and then an ovation that raised the stadium roof once more to recognise the Paralympians that truly made the Games a success. And another ovation for the army of volunteers across all of Paris 2024.

The Paralympic Revolution, the inclusion revolution, just like #We’llGiveYouSomethingToTalkAbout, has been amplified like never before by Paris 2024. And as the President of Paris 2024 said, ‘there is no turning back’.

The IPC President Andrew Parsons proclaimed Paris 2024 the most spectacular Paralympic Games ever. And fitting recognition as well. Viva la France!

And just like that, the party continued, passing the baton to LA2028, and we also look ahead to Brisbane 2032. The work starts now…

Above I mentioned our ten NZ Paralympic Team debutants, who have now been officially allocated their unique Paralympian #, as follows:
#229 Devon Briggs (Para cycling)
#230 Matthew Britz (Para table tennis)
#231 Peter Cowan (Para canoe)
# 232 Wojtek Czyz (Para badminton)
#233 Louise Duncan (Para equestrian)
#234 Mitch Joynt (Para athletics)
#235 Lili-Fox Mason (Para swimming)
#236 Neelam O’Neill (Shooting Para sport)
#237 Gabriella Smith (Para swimming)
#238 Joshua Willmer (Para swimming)

Once a Paralympian, always a Paralympian, and we hope that this will mark the continuation of your individual journeys in Para sport, and to see you back at LA 2028 or another Games in the future.

And whilst we recognise our NZ Paralympians through the established numbering, it is also important to acknowledge and celebrate the sport specific and Games Delivery support staff as part of the NZ Paralympic Team at Paris 2024 – coaches, managers, medical, media, cultural, operations, logistics and management staff – without their dedication and support to create the platform for our Paralympians to prepare and preform at their best, the outstanding outcomes that have been achieved at the Games would not be possible.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the wider PNZ Team back at base in New Zealand. Whilst many of us have been in Paris for the Games, the Team in New Zealand have been working around the clock (some through the night) to ensure that every opportunity has been explored to maximise the coverage of our NZ Paralympic Team, across broadcast and social channels, but also in schools, with our partners, and members of the wider community. This effort will continue to be critical as we showcase our NZ Paralympic Team when they arrive home, and as we look ahead to how to ride the hugely positive wave of interest that has been created by the Team over in Paris.

And lastly, a significant thank you to our national sport organisation, PNZ members, commercial and funding partners. The NZ Paralympic Team assembles for each edition of the Paralympic Games (Summer and Winter), but it is the commitment, knowledge, expertise and financial support across each Paralympic Games cycle from our key partners, that enables this to occur, and for a NZ Paralympic Team to be selected to compete at the Games.

I am sure I speak on behalf of every member of the NZ Paralympic Team to extend a huge thanks and our appreciation to all of our key partners and stakeholders.

The remaining members of the NZ Paralympic Team will depart Paris tomorrow (Monday local time), for either onward travel or to return home. Those arriving back into New Zealand over coming days will fly the flag for the rest of the Team, with positive media interest awaiting, some school and partner visits, and the opportunity for everyone to continue to #TalkAboutThis.

Make sure you share with family, friends and colleagues, that although the Games have come to a close in Paris, the coverage, media interest and promotion of our NZ Paralympic Team remains high, and we want the conversations and celebration to continue.

That’s a wrap from Paris 2024. Thank you to everyone for taking the time to read our daily wraps, and for following, liking and sharing the content on our incredible NZ Paralympic Team. I look forward to the opportunity to connect again in the future, but for now, safe travels for those continuing their journeys or returning home, and for everyone – the very best of wishes for the remainder of the Paralympic year ahead – it’s time to extinguish the flame at Paris 2024.

The NZ Paralympic Team – Definitely #WorthTalkingAbout

Best wishes, Greg