PRIME MINISTER
EMBARGOED AGAINST DELIVERY APPROX 8: 00 PM
ADDRESS BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P. J. KEATING, MP
TO THE OLYMPIC TEAM DINNER SHERATON WENTWORTH, SYDNEY,
AUGUST 1992
Ladies and gentlemen
An honour to be here In such illustrious company -the
most successful Australian Olympic team-in thirty years.
Twenty seven medals. Fifty two medallists.
Any number of personal bests. High rankings in events
where Australians have never before excelled.
A performance which gives us grounds to believe that
we're entering another golden age of Australian sportand
the performance of the Rugby Union side In Capetown,
and the cricket team in Sri Lanka is further evidence.
I have to say that in those two cases, as in Barcelona,
there was some thing more than winning attachedto the_
per forman~ ce.
There was character.
In the last two months Australia's sportsmen and women
have been outstanding ambassadors for their country.
There have been ample measures of both brilliance and
grit. A terrific sense of purpose and, awareness of what the
spirit of sport is all about.
It's a truism that Australians love their sport.
. In fact-I think-it goes further then -that I think
Australians see in sport the things they value.
Like courage, comradeship competition. Winning.
We value winning when Kieran Perkins swam that
magnificent 1500 metres, Kathy watt, Matt Ryan, Clint
Robinson, the Equestrian Team, the Double Sculls, the
Qarsome Foursome when they won, Australians won too.
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We shared their triumph.
All thos e medallists did us 8 bit of good.
So did some of those terrific fourths like Michael
Murphy. And so did a lot of other great performances, including
some desperately unlucky ones like David Green's.
The point is, I think, that it is not the winning which
really moves us.
It beats losing, there's no doubt.
But what really moves us I think is the kelieñ that the
athlete embodies.
The belief we know you had to have to go so far.
We are moved by your faith in yourselves.
Your spirit.
The fact that you are Australian and you have this spirit
this world-conquering spirit moves us.
it's why we honour you tonight.
You have been great ambassadors. You have done us proud.
More than that, you have set us an example.
You remind us of the spirit in this country that made
it a great country, that will assure our future.
So I know I Bpeak for all Australians when I congratulate
you and thank you, and wish you the very best of luck
in everything you do.
SYDNEY AUGUST 1992