Australian Olympians in Los Angeles and on the French Alps at the next summer and winter Olympic Games are set to don a recognition of First Nations athletes who came before them.
Noongar artists and father and son, Peter Farmer Snr and Peter Farmer Jr, and Torres Strait Islander artist Alick Tipoti have created the Australian Olympic Committee's (AOC) offical team artwork.
Titled 'Doonch-doonch, Kaymelan, Together', using both Noongar and Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait) language, the work honours the 66 known First Nations athletes to have competed at Olympic Games.
This is "carried together as a wave, an expression of unity across land, sea and sky. Across generations, communities and cultures it represents one shared story", as explained by the Australian Olympic Committee.
The artwork will feature on team uniforms for the 2028 Summer Games in LA, and 2023 Winter Games in the French Alps, and comes after 11 First Nations athletes competed at Paris in 2024.
It was unveiled at the same time the AOC and its Indigenous Advisory Committee launched its 'Stretch' Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
Together, the AOC said the unveilings "represent the next chapter of its commitment to reconciliation through sport".
"I'm extremely excited to be part of this project. As an artist for the athletes, I want them to feel proud and strong knowing this artwork was designed with thought and care when it comes to culture," Peter Farmer Jr said.
Within the host of flagged actions, with respective timelines and onus of responsibility on personnel, included in the RAP are those to;
- 'Develop, implement, and communicate an anti-discrimination policy for our organisation'
- 'Facilitate the exchange of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and perspectives to international stakeholders and organisations to develop innovative approaches to advance reconciliation during Games'
- 'Implement and communicate a cultural learning strategy for our staff'
- To increase recruitment, retention and professional development on First Nations staff
- To develop pathways for First Nations athletes, coaches, officials and administrators
- Increase reach and engagement with Indigenous communities across the country, through schools
- 'Commission an Indigenous-led evaluation of the new Australian Olympic Indigenous Athlete Scholarship initiative, to measure impact and inform future iterations of the program'
The Australian Olympic Committee launched its inaugural Indigenous athlete scholarship program at it's annual general meeting earlier this year.
"The AOC 'Stretch' RAP makes clear that reconciliation is not something we acknowledge only on special occasions - it is something we embed in our decisions, our sport, our workplaces and our communities," two-time Olympian and AOC Indigenous Advisory Committee chair Patrick Johnson said.
"The commitment is simple, to keep listening, learning and moving forward together. We've seen what's possible through our 66 known Indigenous Olympians whose achievements have contributed to a legacy of excellence, resilience, pride and inspiration that continues to shape Australian sport."
AOC president Ian Chesterman said the Stretch RAP "is not simply a statement of intent".
"It is a stronger commitment to action, in the leadership of our Indigenous Advisory Committee, in the voices of our Olympians, in the unveiling of this remarkable artwork and in our shared belief that the path to Brisbane 2032 and beyond must also be a path of truth, respect, opportunity and unity," he said.
The announcement comes following recent resistance efforts at planned development sites in Magandjin for the Brisbane 2032 Games.
