Mills first Indigenous Olympic flag-bearer in Tokyo
THE modern Olympics began in 1896, having been modelled on the Ancient Olympic Games from 776 BC.
That is a history spanning 3000 years. It might sound impressive to some, but it is nothing when compared to the significance of Australia being led into the Tokyo opening ceremony by a member of the oldest living culture on the planet, a man who walks with 60,000 years of genetic memory coursing through his veins.
Patty Mills. Kokatha, Naghiralgal and Dauareb-Meriam man. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. Social justice advocate. Professional basketballer. NBA champion and four-time Olympian.
Along with Cate Campbell, the first female swimmer to be selected for the role, Mills will carry the Australian flag ahead of the squad that will march in the parade of nations in Tokyo.
The Australian Olympic team Chef de Mission Ian Chesterman selected the flag-bearers.
Chesterman rang Mills and said he would be honoured if — as one of Australia’s Olympic team leaders — he would accept the role.
There was no hesitation on Mills’s part. “It was an easy decision. I am very proud of who I am. I am very comfortable in my own skin,” Mills said.
“I get thrilled and excited about the opportunity to be able to tell people who I am and where I’m from.
“At the end of the day I imagine little girls and little boys, whether they are at home or at school … I can picture them and what they might feel or how they’ll react when they see someone like me being a representative of them.
“That’s what it’s all about, right? Having the next generation come up and be true to themselves, proud of who they are, proud of their identity, and to wear that on their chests … that can help them achieve their dreams.”