The NSW Government is committing $750,000 to Paralympics Australia to support athletes competing at next year’s Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, matching a commitment made to the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) National Team Appeal in March.
Hodge is a gold, silver and bronze medallist in the 2020 Summer Paralymipcs, the 2019, 2020 and 2022 World Para Swimming Championships and the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Swimming in the S9 classification (SB8), he lost is right foot when he was four due to lower-leg deficiency, is missing two fingers on his right hand and his right arm is shorter than his left.
He said the funding was a great step forward.
“The Government has been providing some funding for a while but to be on equal footing means paralympic sport is now being widely accepted and supported,” he said.
“It’s a very welcome move.”
The Paralympic Games provide an opportunity for people with disabilities to showcase their skills across a range of sports, from wheelchair tennis and wheelchair basketball, to para swimming, para athletics and para equestrian.
The financial support will contribute to flights, accommodation, meals, uniforms and medical services.
The Games will be held in France from August 28 to September 8 and bring together 4,400 athletes competing across 549 events.
Sport Minister Steve Kamper said: “It is a great honour to support our National Paralympic team as it prepares to represent Australia at the Paris 2024 Paralympics in 19 out of the 22 sports.”
Tim praising paralympian funding vow
AUBURN Swimming Club’s World Paralympic Champion Timothy Hodge has praised last week’s announcement that equal funding would now be provided to paralympians.
