Paralympic heroes set to launch ‘Make My Australia Day’ campaign at GIO’s Oz Day 10k race

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Kurt Fearnley.jpgAustralian champion wheelchair athlete, Kurt Fearnley (left) is headlining a campaign launched today calling on the public to ‘Make my Australia Day’ at the GIO Oz Day 10K race on Saturday 26 January 2013.

Other athletes featuring in the radio, print and social media campaign include London triple Paralympic track medallist Angie Ballard and newcomers Sara Tait and Luke Bailey, both just 14 years of age.

Each athlete features in a ‘GIO hero’ video on the Wheelchair Sports NSW Facebook page asking the public to Make my Australia Day by kick starting Oz Day with the 10 kilometre wheelchair road race around The Rocks.

Fearnley, defending GIO Oz Day 10K Men’s Open Champion and two time medal winner at the London 2012 Paralympics, said a home crowd had the ability to change the mentality of the athletes.

VP4gWxH7Y-Qgw118v10ju3b-Crof4nz5-w8WTiXYSIg.jpgSays Fearnley: “This is the first time Australian wheelchair athletes will have competed on home soil since the London Paralympics, and no athlete performs better than when they have the support of the crowd behind them. We want Australia with us, pushing us to do our absolute best.”

Spectators will be able to grab a shot of themselves in the middle of the Australia Day action with a free interactive photo booth from which they can upload photos directly on to social media sites to show their support.

The GIO Make my Australia Day campaign also gives the public a chance to win a Turbo Elite four burner BBQ valued at $2,599 by heading to the Wheelchair Sports NSW Facebook page and in 25 words of less ‘what would be your ultimate Australia Day?’

GIO are providing a free Big Aussie Breakfast at the corner of Pitt St and Alfred St, Circular Quay, from 8am for spectators. The campaign is being supported by a 2UE radio campaign.

 

The GIO Oz Day 10K annually attracts a strong contingent of international competitors and forms part of the GIO Summer Down Under Series, the first qualifying series the athletes will face following the London 2012 Paralympics in preparation for the 2013 International Paralympic Committee World Athletics Championships in France.

The full GIO Summer Down under series runs from January 21-26, free events include:      

  • Canberra International Track Meet – 21 and 22 January 5.30-8.30pm, Australian Institute of Sport
  • Sydney Track Meet – 24 January, 5.30 -8.30pm, Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre
  • Mentor and developing athlete clinic – 25 January 10am-12pm,
  • GIO Oz Day 10K – 26 January, 8am-10.30am, Alfred Street, The Rocks

The 2013 GIO Summer Down Under series has a total prize pool of $30,000. Spectator entry to all the track and road events is free.