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The eastern grandstand of Accor Stadium in Sydney will be named after Australian sporting legend Cathy Freeman, the New South Wales Government has announced.
The authority invited the public to nominate a sportswoman for the accolade. The government said that it is the first time that such a facility has been named after a woman.
The newly named ‘Cathy Freeman Stand’ was where thousands of spectators watched the athlete light the Olympic torch to signal the start of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and famously win the 400m gold 10 days later.
That victory in front of a home crowd of 112,524 spectators saw Freeman become the first Aboriginal Australian to win an individual Olympic gold medal.
“This stadium and Sydney Olympic Park hold a truly special place in my heart and that will never change,” Freeman said. “I hope that my story continues to inspire generations of girls and boys to chase their own dreams in sport and life.”
Premier Chris Minns added: “I want the next generation of young girls to watch sport at this stadium, looking up at the Cathy Freeman Stand, thinking about their own sporting dreams.”
The NSW Government has also commissioned a giant permanent mural at the stadium to mark the performance of Australia’s national team at the recent Fifa Women’s World Cup. The artwork will be installed on the external facade of the eastern side of the stadium.
Image: Simon_sees – (CC BY 2.0) – edited for size
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