Watch our Aussie athletes shine

Published on 05 September 2024

Local sports lovers have their last chance to get together and soak up the magnificent atmosphere of the Paralympic Games Paris 2024 with Top Ryde City shopping centre hosting a live site for the penultimate day of competition on Saturday 7 September.

The action will be displayed on the big screen situated in the shopping centre Piazza between 5.00-10.00pm.

Some of the Aussies competing include western Sydney’s Gordon Allan and the Blue Mountains’ Amanda Reid who are taking part in the men’s and women’s C1-3 cycling road races, respectively, from 5.30pm.

There are also canoe sprint and equestrian events being held during the evening, Sydney time.

So, put on your best green and gold and get ready to cheer on our elite athletes. You can make a great night of it by dining at one of the Piazza restaurants, taking part in the free kids’ activities including face painting donut decorating, designing your own flag, and testing your skills with the little boomers ‘Shoot the hoop’ activation (pictured, above).

The final Paralympic live site wraps up a busy few weeks of recognising sporting achievement in the City of Ryde.

Aside from the four live site activations for the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, the Ryde Sports Foundation (RSF) held its annual Gala Presentation evening on Friday 16 August, showcasing 12 outstanding Sports Stars from 2023/24, representing 12 different sports.

They joined the more than 500 Ryde athletes who have been unearthed and recognised over the past 44 years, including 10 former RSF Sports Stars who represented Australia in Paris, at either the Olympics or Paralympics. One of those former Sports Stars, Ryde swimmer Olivia Wunsch, won Gold at the Paris Olympics as a member of Australia's extended 4 X 100m women's freestyle team.

Paris Olympian Michelle Bromley (table tennis) was named 2023/24 Sports Star of the Year, with Adam Bruntsch (athletics steeplechase), and Ben Karakasis (baseball) receiving the Club 6 Encouragement Award, while Alyse Oppedisano (soccer) was the winner of the Rising Star Award.

Congratulations to all our talented and dedicated local athletes.