The new Labor Government is moving to fulfil another of its election commitments —naming a stand at Accor Stadium after a female sporting legend.
The NSW Government is putting out the call to recognise and celebrate one of Australia’s greatest female athletes at Accor Stadium, with the Eastern Stand to be renamed after a woman. Everyone is being invited to nominate a female sporting legend through the NSW Government’s Have Your Say page.
The eastern grandstand is the main public seating area of the stadium and closest to the major public transport links to Sydney Olympic Park.
The public’s nominations will be assessed by a college of judges drawn from the sport, government and media industries, before a recommendation is made to the NSW Government.
The process will be managed by Venues NSW, which in January unveiled a sculpture of a female cricket legend (and Werris Creek local) Belinda Clark at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the first such recognition of a female cricketer in the world.
NSW Premier Chris Minns encouraged everyone to jump online and have their say.
“Celebrating Australia’s greatest female athletes was one of our election commitments that I am proud we can take swift action on.
“It could be a vote for Louise Sauvage or Cathy Freeman and their amazing success at Sydney 2000, or the more modern stars whose excellence has driven elite women’s sport into the mainstream.”
“There are so many amazing female athletes who are deserving of this honour and the timing is perfect when NSW hosts the Matilda’s first match at the biggest sporting event in the world this year, the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.”
Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said this will be hugely important recognition for women in sport in Australia, and for girls who are looking to emulate their sporting heroes.
“These female athletes put in the same incredible effort as their male counterparts and deserve to be just as widely celebrated,” she said.
“We have front row seats to the rise of an exciting new era in which women’s sport is being properly acknowledged and it’s important that we recognise the female legends who made this possible.”
While a second nod to New England local Belinda Clark is possible, other New England women that could be in the mix include gold medal winning Hockeyroo Kathleen Partridge, or Moree-born two-time world champion triathlete Emma Moffatt.
Nominations can be made at www.nsw.gov.au/have-your-say from Thursday 20 April to Thursday 18 May 2023.
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