2023 Polytan Peter Norman Inclusion Award
Award in recognition of the 1968 Mexico Olympic hero.
The man behind the award
Peter George Norman is a name we should know better. The third man in the 1968 Mexico Olympics Black Power Salute photo - arguably one of sport’s most iconic images of all time – Australian-born Norman stood in solidarity on the podium with his fellow black U.S. athletes John Carlos and Tommie Smith.
Peter Norman at the 1968 Mexico Olympics
Despite clinching a shock silver medal in the 200m at the Games and briefly holding an Olympic record for his time in one of the heats, Norman never ran at another Olympics. After standing on the podium and wearing an Olympic Project for Human Rights badge as an act of defiance against segregation and racism, he (one of the greatest Australian runners of all time) was accused of bringing politics into sport and unofficially sanctioned.
A symbol of fairness and inclusion
Whilst history was initially unkind, Norman has become a symbol of fairness and inclusion. When ‘Salute!’ – a film about his life was released after his death in October 2006, his story was told for the first time and his achievements recognised. The US Track and Field Association declared the day of his death ‘Peter Norman Day’ - an honour that was a historical first for a non-US athlete.
To John Carlos and Tommie Smith, he was a hero.
“Over the course of our history we have endeavoured to make sport better through inclusive and sustainable sports facilities.”
Celebrating exceptional contributions to sport
Fast-forward to a packed Victory Room at the Marvel Stadium, Victoria, 7 June 2023, and The Peter Norman Inclusion Award has been created in his memory. The Victorian Sports Awards (VSAs) recognises and celebrates the achievements of home-grown sporting heroes who have made an exceptional contribution to sport in Victoria. It is an award that Sport Group’s Polytan is exceptionally proud to sponsor through a partnership with VicSport.
Breaking down barriers
The Peter Norman Inclusion Award recognises an individual or organisation that has made a significant contribution to safe, fair and inclusive sport. In order to win, the recipient must demonstrate actions that break down barriers for people accessing sport so that anyone, regardless of their age, cultural background, ability, gender identity, religious belief or sexual orientation feels welcome in sport.
Southern Lights Ice Hockey - Pride game
Congratulations to Southern Lights Ice Hockey
This year’s Peter Norman Inclusion Award went to Southern Lights Ice Hockey who prioritise diversity and inclusion by targeting the underrepresented LGBTIQ+ sporting community. They ran come and try sessions to coincide with the Midsumma Festival Carnival and held public events to skate alongside representatives of the club while building awareness and connection.
Growing from a single team of 16 in 2018 to almost 120 people in 2022, most of whom identify as members of the LGBTIQ+ community, Southern Lights have influenced other clubs to run Pride Nights, including IceHQ which had 350 people attend, and built relationships with other queer-run clubs outside of ice hockey.
Southern Lights Ice Hockey team
Positive strides for inclusion and diversity
With other valuable initiatives shortlisted from Tennis Victoria and their Culture on Court programme, Surfing Victoria’s Indigenous Surfing Programme and Christine Granger’s Proud 2 Play work in LGBTIQ+ sport advocacy and engagement, it was a hotly contested award.
Sport Group’s Paul Kamphuis, General Manager for Polytan Asia Pacific who presented the award on the night said:
“The strength of the entries for this award demonstrates the positive strides that have been taken since Norman’s iconic stand in 1968. The Mexico Games were run on a ‘Tartan’ track which is now part of Sport Group, and over the course of our history we have endeavoured to make sport better through inclusive and sustainable sports facilities.
So, I am immensely proud to present this award tonight to an organisation who has done so much to make their sport safe and accessible to the LGBTIQ+ community here in Victoria. Huge congratulations to everyone at Southern Lights Ice Hockey.”
Polytan installs Rekortan tracks around the world, and is a preferred supplier partner of VicSport whose aim as the main body for sport and active recreation in the state is to get as many people in Victoria engaging in sport and physical activity as possible.
For more on this year’s VSAs, click here.