Australian Paralympic Committee to receive security advice from the AFP

Maximising the safety of Australian Paralympic athletes travelling overseas is the key priority of a new agreement announced today by the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) and Australian Federal Police (AFP).

Under the agreement, the APC has engaged the AFP to advise and provide guidance in relation to the security of the Australian Paralympic Team for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games and the Tokyo 2020 Games.

Australian Paralympic Committee Chief Executive Lynne Anderson said the expertise of the AFP has been invaluable for the past three Games campaigns.

“We are very proud of our relationship with the Australian Federal Police and it is a welcome boost to our future Games preparations knowing they are on our team again as we head to Korea next year and Japan in 2020,” Anderson said.

“We know the APC and Australian Paralympic Teams for London 2012, Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016 benefitted immeasurably from the input and support provided by the AFP.

“It is a partnership we believe laid the foundation for excellent campaigns in three complex Games environments where security was a constant concern.”

The AFP will continue to provide protective security advice to the APC in the lead-up to, and during, the Games and will also have a presence on the APC’s Paralympic Team Executive to ensure decision-makers have the latest and best information.

AFP Coordinator Protection Operations Phil Small said strong partnerships were important to mitigating complex challenges in the security environment.

“Preparing for the unknown can be a difficult task. But with the right preparation, training, and overall security awareness from the athletes, we are confident we can help them navigate any different environment they face safely.

“As always, there will be differing challenges and requirements in terms of security aspects – PyeongChang and Tokyo will be no exception.

“The AFP is prepared to adapt to those challenges as they present.”

The APC is aiming to send more than 300 athletes and officials to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and is likely to send more than 30 to PyeongChang in March. It will be one of Australia’s largest ever Winter Paralympic Teams.