Construction of Ballarat's Paralympic walk underway

Construction of a new monument to recognise the efforts of Ballarat Paralympians is underway at Lake Wendouree.

Australian Paralympic Committee representatives Danni Di Toro and Tim Matthews will join City of Ballarat Mayor Samantha McIntosh to inspect the site on Thursday.

The Ballarat Paralympic Walk will honour Ballarat athletes who have represented Australia at the Paralympic Games.

The Walk is located next to the Ballarat Olympic Precinct, which recognises Ballarat’s role as host city of rowing, canoeing and kayaking events at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, as well as Ballarat athletes who have represented Australia at all previous Olympics.

The Paralympic Walk will be officially opened later this year.

The City of Ballarat has worked with the Australian Paralympic Committee to collate a list of Ballarat's Paralympians to be acknowledged at the Walk. To make sure the list is complete, the City of Ballarat is also encouraging people who have represented Australia at previous Paralympic Games, or anyone who knows a Ballarat Paralympian, to make contact. 

Application forms are available from the City of Ballarat website, www.ballarat.vic.gov.au. For more information, contact the Robert Clark Centre on 5320 5135.    

About the Paralympic Walk design:

The design embodies the principles of the Paralympic movement and its motto of “spirit in motion”.

A curved seating wall guides visitors through the long, narrow site and brings an element of ‘motion’ to the site.

Dark powder-coated steel ‘blade’ signs including laser cut lettering and other sign-writing provides entry, directional, interpretative signage and information as well as promoting and recognising Ballarat’s Paralympians.