WA athletes ready to compete at Tokyo Paralympic Games

Aug 23, 2021, 14:13 PM

Western Australia will equal its highest representation on the Australian Paralympic Team with 24 athletes competing at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, starting tomorrow (24 August).

WA athletes will compete in 10 sports in Tokyo, from athletics to wheelchair basketball and swimming to badminton.

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games' opening ceremony will be held on 24 August, with events such as swimming, goalball, table tennis, fencing and basketball starting on 25 August.

The proud Western Australian history in wheelchair basketball will continue, with WAIS' first dedicated Paralympic sport program delivering a record nine athletes across the men's and women's teams. At his fifth games, Shaun Norris will captain The Rollers.

The State Government has also provided direct financial support to all Western Australian athletes selected to the Australian Olympic and Paralympic teams.

Athletes have received a $4000 payment which they and their support team can use to tailor the optimum training and support program on the road to the games.

All but one of the athletes are Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) scholarship holders or graduates, with the support from WAIS helping them achieve international sporting success.

The Tokyo Paralympics will take place between 24 August 2021 and 5 September 2021.