With the world’s eyes turned towards Paris and the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games this week, it’s a timely reminder for local representative athletes to apply to join our local honour roll of sporting heroes.

Manly’s Pathway of Olympians and Paralympians recognises local sporting athletes who have represented their country Australia as an Olympian or a Paralympian through a series of plaques. The Pathway - stretching between East and West Esplanade – showcases 110 athletes and their achievements.

We’ve expanded the eligibility criteria, as well as established an online Northern Beaches Sporting Honour Roll to acknowledge other local Australian sporting representatives. Nominations for both are now open.

The expanded representative criteria for the Pathway, means Northern Beaches residents selected to represent Australia at an Olympic or Paralympic Games since 2016 - the year Council was established - are now eligible for a plaque if they’ve lived here for more than 5 years prior to representation.

To be eligible for the online Sporting Honour Roll on Council’s website, residents who have represented Australia in Olympic, Paralympic, non-Olympic and non-Paralympic sports - including competitors, coaches and referees, juniors through to veterans – can apply.

Applicants for both will be required to meet the criteria and include evidence of residency and sporting representation.  

It’s hoped that by expanding the criteria for the Manly Pathway and establishing the Sporting Honour Roll, not only will individual sporting excellence be recognised and celebrated, but it will also inspire future generations of athletes.