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Future Paralympians ready to shine at AIS

Australian Sports Commisssion

The next generation of Para athletes will descend on Canberra this week for the inaugural Libby Kosmala Para Futures Cup at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).

Emerging Para athletes from every state and territory will compete across 12 sports including powerlifting, goalball, badminton, table tennis, swimming, wheelchair rugby and more, from Friday 2 October to Monday 5 October.

The Cup is organised by the Australian Sports Commission and Paralympics Australia, with support from the National Institute Network. It is part of the Australian Government-funded Para Uplift, Australia’s largest ever effort to grow Para sport and create more opportunities and support for current and future Paralympians.

The competition gives Para athletes valuable multi-sport experience while supporting the development of Australia’s next generation of Paralympians for Brisbane 2032 and beyond.

States and territories will combine to form four teams: Queensland and the Northern Territory (North), New South Wales and the ACT (East), Victoria and Tasmania (South) and South Australia and Western Australia (West).

New South Wales and the ACT (East) coach Paul Nunnari (pictured above), the New South Wales Institute of Sport’s (NSWIS) Para Transition Lead Coach, said the tournament at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra will provide 70 competitors aged 13 to 32 valuable experience in a team environment.

“It’s a great stepping stone for future Para athletes to gain valuable experience, build lasting friendships and understand what a team environment is all about,” Nunnari said. “They’ll learn fundamental high-performance principles and carry them into their training and competitions. It’s a wonderful opportunity, and I’m really excited to be part of what NSWIS is delivering.

“For many athletes, there will be a broad range of feelings. For some, it might be their first time away from home or outside the support of their parents or caregivers. While that can be both daunting and exciting, I think the team environment will be a highly positive experience.”

Nunnari, who will join the NSW athletes in Canberra, said that while the competition aims to deepen the pool of Para athletes for Brisbane and beyond, he will also focus on another key message during his time with the team.

“While The Para Futures Cup is focused on competition, it is also about engagement in Para sport,” he said. “It is vital that athletes enjoy the opportunity to engage, then begin excelling in their respective competitions.”