The campaign features a series of visually striking and thought-provoking films directed by Lex Hodge. They show Para athletes in positions of power, even when external voices oppose them, using the negative comments as fuel to push further and faster. The campaign challenges people to look at the athlete first, rather than focus on their disability.
Check out the first film in the series featuring Paralympian Cameron Leslie here and the second featuring Paralympian Ann Grimaldi here.
The stories of ‘We’ll Give You Something To Talk About’ are the real experiences of Paralympians and Para athletes, and the campaign has been designed to be provocative and emotive, says PNZ Marketing Manager Rachel Barr.
“We want to showcase the individual journeys of our Paralympians, touching on the battle with their own internal voices, the external cacophony of comments and expectations all athletes experience and have to overcome, and the idea that we should talk about disability,” she says.
“We want to celebrate and shout about our Para athletes’ incredible accomplishments, and we want New Zealanders to talk about them as the amazing elite athletes they are.”
Three-time Paralympic champion swimmer Paralympian #164 Cameron Leslie MNZM, says he struggled to get people to believe in him early in his career.
“Disability can so often be talked in whispers and behind people’s backs,” says Leslie, a quadruple amputee. “Those of us with disabilities go through life proving people wrong and sport became my way to do this.”
Born with bilateral talipes (or club feet), Devon Briggs was told he wouldn’t be able to walk, let alone become a world champion.
“I was called all kinds of names as a kid and made to feel like I was more worthless than others,” says Briggs, who won gold and set a world record at the 2024 Para Cycling Track World Championships and is shown in the campaign preparing to ride on the track.
“But riding a bike has been more to me than racing or winning. It gives me the ability to be free and feel just like everyone else.”
You can find more information on the NZ Paralympic Team here.
