Elite athletes living with disability will soon have a new space to call their own with the NSW Government greenlighting $15 million of funding to create a new Disability Sport Centre of Excellence.

The first-of-its-kind in Australia, the centre will be a multipurpose indoor training facility for athletes. It comes complete with bespoke and flexible amenities designed to allow athletes to train around work, family, educational and other commitments.
The centre will be built within the Blacktown International Sports Park and will complement the $100 million Blacktown Exercise Sports and Technology hub (BEST) slated to open in the coming months.

Users of the centre will benefit from the facilities and services provided at BEST, including access to medical services, recovery facilities and research collaborations.

Sporting Expansion

The $30.5 million project was led by Disability Sports Australia and Blacktown City Council and supported by several current Paralympic sports including Badminton, Boccia, Fencing, Goalball, Judo, Taekwondo and Volleyball.
 
Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM said the partnership with Disability Sports Australia marks an exciting new era for sport and health in Western Sydney, and would provide a boost for generations of athletes to come.
“I hope the centre, its world-class facilities and staff can inspire future athletes to fulfil their potential, and possibly even represent Australia at the 2032 Paralympic Games in Brisbane.”
Minister for Sport, Alister Henskens, said the centre will not only set a benchmark for the community but will be an important hub for the development of the next generation of sporting stars across Paralympic and professional sports.

Centre's Construction

Construction of the new Disability Sports Centre of Excellence will commence this year and is scheduled for completion in late 2024.
It’s hoped this groundbreaking facility in NSW will act as a catalyst for similar developments in other states and territories across Australia.