This will be the first time an Australian Commonwealth Games Team including athletes and team officials will receive the prestigious award.
Australia’s history-making Birmingham 2022 Games team members will be the first-ever Commonwealth Games athletes and officials to receive the Australian Sports Medal (ASM).
Over 450 team members have been nominated by Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) to receive the ASM, after the Australian team topped the overall medal table at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, with 178 medals, including 67 gold, 57 silver and 54 bronze.
Gold medallists Liz Watson, Gretel Bueta (netball), along with Darcie Brown and Jess Jonassen (cricket) were amongst the first cohort of team members presented with their medals today at an event hosted by their Excellencies the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) and Mrs Linda Hurley, at Government House in Canberra.
Others included Paul Burnett (Beach Volleyball), Sam Carter (Athletics), as well as the team’s youngest and oldest athletes Charli Petrov (diving) and Cheryl Lindfield (lawn bowls).
The Governor-General, the Patron-in-Chief of Commonwealth Games Australia, presented 33 team members with their medals today.
“The awards I am presenting today recognise the first group of 2022 Games participants. Recipients displayed great spirit and determination in Birmingham, across a range of roles within the team,” the Governor-General said.
“While the spotlight rightly often shines on our athletes, Mrs Hurley and I were privileged to see first-hand the hard work behind the scenes of our Chef de Mission, Petria Thomas OAM and her team, along with coaches, officials and support staff.
“On behalf of all Australians, I congratulate recipients and offer our thanks for representing the green and gold with pride, and for inspiring the nation.”
Australian Chef de Mission Petria Thomas, herself a previous recipient of the Australian Sports Medal, recognised the efforts of the whole team in challenging circumstances.
“The way our diverse team came together with a can-do attitude, not just at the Games, but in the lead-up, fills me with great pride,” Thomas said.
“The Australian Sports medal is a recognition of the way in which the team performed and conducted itself, both on and off the field of play, and I thank the Governor-General for his patronage and support.”
Further state-based ceremonies for Birmingham 2022 team members will take place in coming weeks around the country.
