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Paralympians honoured with Brisbane parade

Posted September 29, 2008 20:03:00

Queensland's Paralympians have received an official welcome home in Brisbane's Queen Street Mall, with friends, family and fans turning out for the welcome home presentation.

They were presented with the keys to the city by Premier Anna Bligh and acting Lord Mayor Graeme Quirk.

Powerlifter Abebe Fekadu missed out on a medal, but says he just wanted to represent his adopted country.

"It's a privilege, Australia is a wonderful country, especially for me," he said.

Fekadu arrived from Ethiopia as an asylum seeker in the late '90s and only gained citizenship last year.

His coach, Raymon Epstein, says it has been a long journey.

"For us who'd been down that road with him to see him competing in Australian colours was a great buzz," he said.

Fekadu is now planning his assault on the London Paralympics.

Tags: sport, paralympics, qld, brisbane-4000

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