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Author: Jemima Ung

Two Australian athletes, Patrick Ramm (left) and Telaya Blacksmith (right) stand together smiling in their green and gold Australian Uniforms at an athletics track.

Aussie athletes celebrate 30 Days to Go until 2025 Virtus World Athletics Championships in Brisbane

Proud Aussie athletes have received their national team uniforms to mark the 30-Day Countdown to the 2025 Virtus World Athletics Championships that will take place in Brisbane from October 8-15, 2025. 

The 11th edition of the Virtus World Athletics Championships will welcome elite athletes with an intellectual impairment from around the world, all chasing glory, pride and a place on the podium.  

It is being hosted by Sport Inclusion Australia in collaboration with Queensland Athletics, and supported by the Australian Government, Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council. 

The Championships add another major sporting event to the region on the road to Brisbane 2032 and continues to enhance the city’s reputation as a hub for inclusive sport. 

To mark this major milestone, Australian athletes Telaya Blacksmith PLY and Patrick Ramm were presented with their green and gold competition kit that they will wear proudly in a month’s time. 

Since debuting for Australia at the age of 14 at the Virtus Oceana Asia Games 2022 in Brisbane, Telaya has since gone on to become a Paralympian and compete internationally for Australia. 

“Representing Australia on home soil is an honour and I’m ready to give it my all at these Championships,” Blacksmith said. 

“The Virtus World Athletics Championships are a chance to inspire others to get involved in sport and that’s just as important as winning medals.” 

Sport Inclusion Australia CEO Robyn Smith OAM said the significance of the 2025 Virtus World Championships stretched well beyond the field of play. 

“These Championships are a powerful way to recognise and celebrate excellence, equity and inclusion,” Ms Smith said.  

“With 30 days to go, we’re proud to support the athletes who represent the best of Australian sport. This is their time to be seen, supported and celebrated on a global stage. 

“We’re racing towards the Olympics and Paralympics in 2032 and the Championships is another event paving the way towards the city’s capability to host inclusive major international events.” 

For more information about the 2025 Virtus World Athletics Championships visit: https://sportinclusionaustralia.org.au/2025-virtus-world-athletics-championships/ 

Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges: Sport Inclusion Australia Expands Sport Diplomacy with New China Project

Sport Inclusion Australia (SIA) is proud to announce its latest initiative, the Included Through Sport – Australia–China Immersion Project, using sport diplomacy to drive social impact and build inclusive communities across borders. 

The initiative aims to brings together government, sport and community leaders in Australia and China to use sport as a powerful medium to drive greater social, health and economic benefits. 

Funded by the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations, the project is a significant expansion of Sport Inclusion Australia’s international footprint and deepens its commitment to advancing inclusion for people with an intellectual impairment. 

As part of the program, Sport Inclusion Australia will deliver its Inclusive Sport Leadership workshops, empowering organisations with practices to embed inclusion and build sustainable programs tailored to local needs. 

This is more than a knowledge exchange — it’s a cultural immersion. The project will foster two-way learning, to strengthen connections and identify insights and opportunities that seeks to improve accessibility and cultural responsiveness.  

“This project brings people together through sport, no matter where they come from – it’s a universal language,” said Robyn Smith OAM, CEO of Sport Inclusion Australia.  

“It’s about building a global movement for inclusion that reflects the diversity of our communities and the dignity of every person.” 

Sport Inclusion Australia is renowned for delivering government-funded initiatives across the Pacific Islands, Latin America, the Middle East, Korea, and Japan — using sport to foster connection, understanding and opportunity.