Federal Minister Anika Wells endorses Australian sport’s united vision to 'win well'

Australian sport’s united vision 'We win well to inspire Australians' has been endorsed by Federal Minister for Sport, Anika Wells to mark the six-month anniversary of Australia’s High Performance 2032+ Sport Strategy.

The Win Well Pledge was developed as a genuine commitment to hold the Australian high performance sport system accountable to the HP 2032+ Strategy and the vision of winning well.

The Minister added her signature to the Win Well Pledge which has been signed by the leaders of all 51 sporting organisations involved in the HP 2032+ Strategy.

While speaking at the inaugural 2032+ Strategy Forum at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra, the Minister noted “reading through your strategy, the concept of Win Well really resonated with me. Win well means it’s ok that we, as Australians, can aspire to win, as long as we’re inspiring others with how we win.

“It is this strategy that unites our system and lays the groundwork for what we hope to collectively achieve in the lead up to Brisbane 2032 and beyond. This period presents a generational opportunity to showcase the very best of Australian sport and the very best of Australia.”

Australia’s High Performance 2032+ Sport Strategy was launched in December 2023. Co-designed by Australia’s high performance sport system, the strategy aims to build ongoing, sustainable success for Australian high performance sport in the lead up to and post-Brisbane 2032.

Australian Sports Commission Chief Executive Kieren Perkins adds “we all agree there is a tremendous amount of work to be done but by harnessing our collective strengths, talent and resources we can deliver the best outcomes for our athletes, sports and all of Australia.

“To see the interest and commitment across the sector in seeing this strategy come to life is heartening and I thank everyone for their continued commitment to this strategy and to Australian sport.”

More than 100 people from across the high performance system gathered for the 2032+ Strategy Forum, including Paralympics Australia Chief Executive Catherine Clark, Australian Olympic Committee Chief Executive Matt Carroll, Commonwealth Games Australia Chief EXecutive Craig Phillips, and representatives from national sporting organisations, the National Institute Network, athletes and coaches.

It was the first opportunity for all areas of the system to come together since December, and a platform for feedback on the more than 60 priority projects currently in progress to help unite the system.

Swimming Australian High Performance Director Tamara Sheppard, who is also a member of the Strategy Leadership Group advised “the strategy has been in place for the last six months and I think what I've witnessed and seen is a change in the way we collaborate. We're having the conversation leaning on each other, sharing our problems, and then just finding collective solutions to problems.

“I think there's a collective intent. We're all on the same page and want the same things. It was a great opportunity for us to stop, take stock and continue to focus on what we want for Paris, Brisbane and beyond.”

Among the athletes present for the forum was Olympic bronze medallist and Commonwealth Games Champion diver Anabelle Smith, who shared “I think it's important being here as an athlete and seeing the system united together.

“It motivates me. It inspires me to do my best job knowing that we've got people behind us who are also trying to set us up in an environment that's going to help us to achieve our dreams and goals.”

A second 2032+ Strategy Forum will be held later this year to track the progress of the priority projects.

Click here to learn more about Australia’s High Performance 2032+ Sport Strategy.

Images: Federal Minister for Sport,Anika Wells signs the Win Well Pledge while at the HP2032+ Strategy Forum at the AIS in Canberra (top) and more than 100 people from across the Australian high performance sport system gathered at the AIS in Canberra for the HP 2032+ Strategy Forum (below).