Article by Steven Jackson, courtesy of the Daily Mail Australia.
Mining magnate Gina Rinehart is splashing out on a no-expenses-spared party at the Paris Games for what she says will be the best Australian swim team in history – insisting they deserve nothing but the very best the French capital has to offer.
The billionaire boss has hired a luxury glass-topped river boat, world-class chef and live entertainment for a glittering star-studded soiree to pay tribute to Australia’s medal-winning swimmers and rowers next Monday.
And it is not only French fare on the menu, with Mrs Rinehart revealing she is even having her prized wagyu beef flown in from Australia especially for the festivities.
‘These young hard-working Australians are ones our nation can be proud of,’ Mrs Rinehart told Daily Mail Australia.
‘They are fantastic role models and ambassadors for our country. They help to lift our spirits and make Aussies proud across our country – in my view, all good positive attributes.
‘Perhaps amongst these outstanding youngsters we will also see the future leaders our country needs.
‘I hope to make (our after party) a night the athletes love!
‘Of course, our [Rinehart-branded] 2GR Wagyu will be floating with us, and the Seine will look beautiful at night, and the live entertainment will be young and terrific.
‘This is just a very, very small acknowledgement for the years of incredible effort our Olympians have put in.’
Mrs Rinehart is expected to attend the rowing finals at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium next Monday during the day before taking in the swimming finals that night.
She will join Australian Olympic legend Dawn Fraser for the finals at the Paris La Defense Arena, before setting sail on the Seine for her Olympic blow-out.
The glittering party – to be held on the luxury Ducasse Sur Seine riverboat – will spend 2.5 hours cruising the river, taking in city landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and the Louvre.
The lavish dishes onboard will be the creation of the internationally renowned French chef Alain Ducasse, who has been awarded more than 20 Michelin stars.
Mrs Rinehart said she had been overwhelmed by the atmosphere at the Games so far and only hoped she still had her voice come the party, after spending the next week cheering on Australia’s sports stars.
‘I’m known to lose my voice quite quickly!’ she joked.
While she looked forward to celebrating all of Australia’s success at the games, those she she had helped achieve their dreams were particularly close to her heart.
‘Of course, my favourite events are ones involving the sports that I am patron of, given my special relationship with those outstanding youngsters and many of their families too,’ she said.
‘The beach volleyballers are thrilled with their position near the Eiffel Tower, the swimmers are thrilled with the pool they will compete in, saying some of the best pool facilities they’ve ever experienced.
‘I believe Australia is presenting its best swimming team for any Olympics ever, so should be rather exciting.’
Mrs Rinehart, who spends about $10million a years supporting Australian athletes across swimming, rowing, volleyball and artistic swimming, has become a critical part of the nation’s Olympic set-up and popular figure with the nation’s athletes.
She said she remained in awe of the dedication, discipline and commitment of Australia’s athletes and that she had been keen to impress on them that simply making it to the Paris Games was an outstanding achievement.
‘Perhaps inspiration can be gleaned by illustrating mathematically, as the percentage of Australians who achieve becoming Olympians is so tiny,’ she said.
‘The most inspiring are the athletes who, like our wonderful Dawn Fraser, have attended multiple Olympics and won Olympic gold medals.
‘But even those who are attending the Olympics for their first time are rare and exceptional, as only about 0.00013% of the population achieves being an Olympian!
‘Of course, those zeros increase a lot if more than one Olympics, and increase again if more than one medal!’
‘I hope my words to first time Olympians were helpful, given they will experience a lot of noise, media and other distractions.
‘I love to see young Australians strive for excellence, and work very hard to represent our country at their very best. Youngsters I am proud of.’
