Paralympic athlete Ellie Cole has praised the shared values of inclusivity between the international Paralympic movement and WorldPride, a global LGBTQIA+ festival being hosted in Sydney. As an ambassador for Sydney WorldPride, Cole sees the event as a natural extension of the Paralympic movement’s commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in sports. Cole, who won 17 medals across four Paralympics, sees the importance of athletes coming out and being celebrated for their true selves, an attitude that has become more widely accepted across the sports world.
Cole sees parallels between her own journey in the Paralympic world and the messaging of inclusivity and authenticity being promoted at WorldPride. As a Paralympic athlete, she has always sought to be authentic and not hide who she is, and sees the same spirit of openness and acceptance at WorldPride. The ability to celebrate one’s true self is important for athletes, and Cole is heartened to see more athletes around the world feeling comfortable about coming out.
Sydney WorldPride celebrations began on February 17 and run through until March 5, and Cole is honoured to be involved in such an event. For her, the power of inclusivity extends far beyond the sporting world and is a cause for everyone to celebrate. The shared values of the Paralympic movement and WorldPride are indicative of a growing movement towards greater diversity and acceptance in society, and Cole hopes to see these values reflected in all areas of life.
