Victoria will host the 2023 International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football and the Asian Oceania Championships later this year, the first time the men’s and women’s Para Asian Cup will be held at the same time.
Speaking at the launch in Melbourne, NDIS Minister Bill Shorten said while it was an exciting time for Australian football, it’s also an exciting time for those amongst the 4.4 million Australians who self-report as having a disability, who want and aspire to play sport.
He said the NDIS supports more than 17,000 participants whose primary diagnosis is cerebral palsy.
“I think the Para Asian Cup will showcase Australia as an exemplar of sporting prowess and inclusion. We will have our best players playing on the best grounds as we welcome participants from all around the world.”
“If we want to be successful on the world stage, as our athletes with disability are, then we’ve got to nurture it at all levels of the sport,” the minister said.