Australian Olympic Committee hosts ‘Walk With Us’ forum to celebrate Indigenous achievements

The Australian Olympic Committee held a ‘Walk with Us’ forum to celebrate Australia’s 60 known Indigenous Olympians and acknowledging Australia’s Indigenous Olympic history and achievements.

Indigenous Olympians Patrick Johnson, Beki Smith, Danny Morseu and Kyle van der Kuyp were joined by AOC CEO Matt Carroll, AOC Athletes’ Commission members Kenny Wallace and Greta Small along with Director of From the Heart Dean Parkin in an open panel session at Meta Headquarters in Barangaroo, Sydney.

The panellists explored the theme of ‘Walking Together’ split into three yarns – Leaving Footprints, Creating Footprints and Future Footprints to discuss where the Australian Olympic movement has come from, current projects and future opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

The forum is the first since the concept was launched in 2020.

The ongoing achievements of the Indigenous Advisory Committee, Indigenous artwork integration throughout Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Australian Olympic Teams, the launch of the Australian Olympic Indigenous Coaching Scholarship supported by global partner Toyota and enshrinement of an Indigenous voice in the Athletes’ Commission were highlighted as practical steps achieved since that inaugural forum two years ago.

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