Athletes and coaches from the 2016 Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games were honoured in Ottawa this week at a House of Commons ceremony and a reception hosted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the Parliamentary Reading Room.
During what was, at times, a boisterous, 23-minute standing ovation, more than 250 of Canada’s best and brightest Olympic and Paralympic athletes marched through the House, greeted by MPs and stopping one-by-one to shake hands and snap-up selfies with Trudeau.
“It’s been so rewarding to be here today with my teammates to share our success and experiences with kids and parliamentarians,” said Katarina Roxon, a three-time Paralympian and gold medalist in swimming from the Rio Games. “An athlete’s success is only made possible thanks to the support of our coaches, community and country, and today was a perfect mix of all those.”
The athletes were then hosted by Trudeau and Canada’s Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, Carla Qualtrough, herself a former Paralympic swimmer, atthe reception.
“Each of you individually, for the rest of your lives, will inspire every room you walk into,” said Trudeau. “What stood out the most when watching you compete was not your physical strength or even your mental strength… it was your strength of spirit, your tenacity, your willingness to always push past your limits on behalf of that maple leaf on your uniform.”
Prior to the ceremony, athletes, coaches and staff members received rings commemorating their participation in the Games at a breakfast hosted by the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic committees.
The athletes then participated in events at the University of Ottawa and the Centre Sportif in Gatineau, where local school children and university students had the opportunity to learn more about Olympic and Paralympic sports.