“To get to march out into the stadium representing that team, that’s all I want to do and that’s all we do as individuals, in the green and gold, competing.” – Madison De Rozario
Harvey Norman is proud to share that last Friday at Admiralty House, venerated Paralympian and brand ambassador Madison de Rozario alongside revered Para-swimmer Brenden Hall, were announced as Australian flagbearers for the opening ceremony at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on August 28th.
Two of Australia’s longest serving and most decorated Paralympians, de Rozario and Hall, will become the face of our nation for the opening ceremony, bearing the national flag symbolising their dedication and sporting excellence, with heads held high from Champs-Elysees to Place de la Concorde in an unmissable out-of-stadium celebration.
Both De Rozario and Hall first made their starry-eyed Paralympic debuts at the Beijing 2008 Games over a decade ago, and now four games and 16 years later, De Rozario has claimed two gold, three silver and one bronze medal to her name, while Hall has garnered three gold, one silver and two bronze.
Kate McLoughlin, Chef de Mission of the Australian Paralympic teams and the appointee of the chosen flagbearers, remarked on the selection of De Rozario and Hall.
“They have achieved extremely highly in their personal sporting endeavours, they’ve been key members of Australian teams over many years and each has made a big impact in bringing Paralympic sport to the attention of millions of Australians.” She said.
De Rozario conveyed a mixture of nostalgia, reverence and overwhelming pride for the legacy she honours on August 28th.
“…the only opening ceremony we’ve ever done as athletes, so to get to now be both at our fifth Games, doing it for the second time ever and going from just kids in this big team to getting to hold the flag, it’s absolutely surreal.” – She said.
Hall expressed similar sentiments, marking the weight and honour the role of flagbearer carries.
“I’ve always looked up to the athletes that get up there and carry the flag out there for us. Not once, in my mind, did I ever think I’d reach that status. To be in amongst such an awe-inspiring legendary status crowd is amazing.” – He said.
Harvey Norman proudly supports our Australian Paralympic teams as we head into an exciting Games period for Paris 2024.
From August 28th to September 8th, catch all the exhilarating action of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on Nine and Stan.