- Sporting champions to share lessons learnt on and off the field with local young people
- Tamsin Cook, Nina Kennedy, Sean Pollard and Belinda Stowell part of this year's tour
Young people in East Kimberley will have a chance to be inspired by Olympic and Commonwealth Games medallists as part of the annual Champions 2 Country tour, which starts today.
Running from September 11-14, the program will bring four Australian Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games athletes to six East Kimberley towns and communities, including Kununurra, Wyndham, Doon Doon, Warmun, Frog Hollow, and Halls Creek.
Champions 2 Country aims to provide inspiration for local people to help foster healthy lifestyles, leadership skills, team work, respect, and motivation.
It is a chance for athletes to share with local young people their experiences in striving to achieve goals on and off the field.
Athletes on this year's tour are swimmer Tamsin Cook (2016 Olympic silver medallist), pole vaulter Nina Kennedy (2018 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist), snowboarder Sean Pollard (2018 Paralympian) and sailor Belinda Stowell (Olympic gold medallist).
The athletes will take part in activities involving nine schools and visits to the Kununurra Little Athletics and swimming clubs, and community engagement activities with the athletes in Kununurra, Halls Creek and Wyndham.
There's also a Meet the Champions breakfast on Wednesday, September 12 for the athletes to share their stories with the wider community.
As noted by Sport and Recreation Minister Mick Murray:
"These athletes are not only role models in sport, they are champions in showing what can be achieved in life with hard work and determination.
"Having recently visited the Kimberley I have seen first-hand the impact quality sporting programs can have on lives and communities.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for elite athletes to share their journey and inspire young people out in some of the most remote parts of the State.
"Sport can deliver benefits in life which travel far beyond the sporting field – and the McGowan Government is proud to help deliver this important program."
