ParaMatilda and AIS athlete ambassador Carly Salmon was on deck to cheer on thousands of school students with disabilities at the 30th Challenge Games in Townsville at the weekend.
More than 1,200 students from across north Queensland took part in the two-day event competing in events such as long jump, shot put, ball games, bocce, soccer, cricket and relays.
Salmon, who co-captains the ParaMatildas, is an ambassador for The Good Village AIS Problem Solvers Program which works with primary schools across the country on health and wellbeing projects, as well as an AIS Thrive with Pride ambassador which champions inclusivity in sport.
Salmon said the Challenge Games, which focus on fun and participation, was an extremely heartwarming and valuable experience for everyone involved.
“When in primary school, I really struggled with the fact that I couldn’t keep up physically with my classmates due to having cerebral palsy. Having a professional and inclusive competition like the Challenge Games would have been so powerful in exposing me to others with a disability and highlighting my strengths rather than the limitations I faced.”
As this year’s special guest, her role included recording and timing races, meeting students and speaking with teachers, parents and students about pathways into para-sport.
“As I’m competitive, I also challenged the kids to plenty of races on the track for extra motivation!” she added.
Creating safe, welcoming, inclusive and fun sporting environments and experiences is central to Australia’s first Sport Participation Strategy which aims to transform sport participation to Brisbane 2032 and beyond and ensure that everyone has a place in sport.
Salmon, who grew up in Wagga Wagga, said sport helped her embrace her disability.
“When I was younger, I could not stand having a disability. Through becoming involved in sport, I started to see other people with disabilities using their disabilities to their advantage. This showed me that there are many positives to facing challenges in your life like building your problem-solving skills and resilience.”
