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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well. The first ever Mini Paralympics was held in Darwin
at the Territory Netball Stadium yesterday, bringing together families, schools,
local clubs for a fun day of sport and activities.
The event was a chance for Territory kids to learn
more about Paralympics sports well in a supportive and inclusive environment.
And joining us on the line from the Northern Territory

(00:22):
Sports Academy Para Pathways Manager Jody Zannini, Good morning to you, Jody,
Good morning, lovely to have you on the show. Jody.
How did it all go yesterday? How many kids took part?

Speaker 2 (00:37):
It was a really great day. We had just over
ninety three children registered to attend and I think from
all accounts everyone had a great time. It was awesome
to be able to showcase what parasport could be and
what a pathway could be for children living in the.

Speaker 1 (00:53):
NT How awesome. What kind of sports and activities did
they get to have a crack at?

Speaker 2 (00:59):
So we actually were lucky. We had Botcher Australia come
and represent and they run They ran a few different
things in that we also had seated volleyball, we had badminton, athletics,
wheelchair basketball, and we also used a walking netball while
we were there as well, which is not a Paralympic
sport but an adaptive sport and a sport that they

(01:20):
could come and try.

Speaker 1 (01:20):
Oh and good fun, right Like that's one of the
wonderful things about all those sports.

Speaker 2 (01:26):
Absolutely, it was a great mix of sports and great
for anyone with any disability to attend. So I think
the main thing was it was all inclusive. Any level
could come and give it a go, and there was
definitely something for everyone.

Speaker 1 (01:39):
Were most of the participants from Darwin or did you have
people from other locations around the place some of the
more remote areas as well, all from Darwin?

Speaker 2 (01:47):
For this one, we had a representation from five different schools,
but we did hold a Alice Mini Paralympics just a
few weeks ago as well. So trying to get out
and about and get it all around the territory.

Speaker 1 (02:00):
Is it like this? I mean, I know you said
there was one in Allison obviously, the one here yesterday.
It was an inaugural event though, wasn't it. So is
it all sort of about sort of highlighting those different pathways?
Do you reckon it'll happen again?

Speaker 2 (02:12):
Yeah? I think so. I think that we will definitely
hold another one next year. But I think the main
thing is that it's not a one off event, and
we're trying to showcase that this is a pathway and
we actually have sports and we have opportunities for people
in the NT living with disability to join sports and
to progress on a Paralympic pathway. And I guess for
people living in the NT, they may think that that's

(02:35):
no an option because we're so far removed, but it
actually is now, especially with a power unit uplift funding
through the Australian Sports Commission and Paralympics Australia.

Speaker 1 (02:44):
And you guys do quite a bit really, don't you
with some of our para athletes here in the Northern
Territory through the Sports Academy. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (02:52):
Well, ironically in the NT we have the most categorized
Paralympic athletes out of any state or territory in terms
of reference to able bodied athletes and parently. Yeah, yeah,
so we're leading the way in that space, and I
think that that just shows that there's athletes definitely living
here in the NT, and a lot of them, you know,

(03:13):
they're on scholarship with us. We've supported them for quite
a while. Tom O'Neil thorne was born and bred here
has has been supported through the NT Sports Academy through
his whole career as in wheelchair basketball.

Speaker 1 (03:26):
How good? And in terms of I mean having a
day like you had yesterday where you're sort of getting
different kids there, you know, and they're trying different sports,
I would imagine we've probably got some hidden talents out
there with some of our para athletes that you guys
haven't even had the opportunity to see up until yesterday.

Speaker 2 (03:44):
Absolutely absolutely, And that's what yesterday was all about. It's
all about just knowledge and experience, and you know, the
teachers kind of finding out what parasport is as well,
because they'll be our talent. ID they're the ones that
are going to find the kids floating around in school
that they may not even know that they had a disability.
And then and then you know, once they do, they're like, oh,
well they actually there's a pathway for you and there's
report you could join into.

Speaker 1 (04:05):
How good? I reckon It's wonderful, wonderful, And you know,
I love seeing people play sport and having opportunities for
people and it just makes such a difference to you know,
to anybody's life.

Speaker 2 (04:16):
Really, That's exactly right. And I think the main thing
is it's not just about a Paralympic pathway, it's just
about getting people involved in sports and being able to
be adaptive and inclusive in all sport is really important
and the NT does it really well in a lot
of the sports that we have up here anyway. So
with that added extra support of a pathway, you know

(04:36):
we will uneest some talent for twenty thirty two.

Speaker 1 (04:38):
I think, yeah, I reckon You're right well. Northern Territory
Sports Academy Power Pathways Manager Jodie Zannini, lovely to talk
to you this morning. Thanks so much for having a
chat with.

Speaker 2 (04:48):
Us, Thanks for having me.

Speaker 1 (04:50):
Thank you,
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