Marie Little

Marie Therese Little OAM was a leading Australian sport administrator particularly in the area of disability sport. She was President of the Australian Paralympic Federation and AUSRAPID.

Personal Little (née Mogford) was born on 1 January 1933. In 1986, she founded AUSRAPID and started argue the case with state and national sports organisations to include people with an intellectual disability in mainstream sport.

Little was one of the founding directors of the Australian Paralympic Federation (APF) in 1990. She was president from 1996 to 1997. During her term as president, the APF professionalised its administration with the goal of having a successful 2000 Sydney Paralympics. Little was a member of the bid committee for the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games from 1991 to 1993. After Sydney won the right to host the 2000 Summer Paralympics, Little was a member of the Sydney Paralympic Organising Committee (1993–1998), including a period as vice-president from 1994 until 1998.

After her death, there were several tributes to her contribution to athletes with a disability. Glenn Tasker, Australian Paralympic President, stated After first advocating for inclusion of people with an intellectual impairment into community sport in the 1970s, Marie became a shining example of how an individual with passion, humility, drive and commitment can make a difference.

Recognition She has been recognised for her service to disability sport. 1993 - Equal Opportunity Achievement Award 1994 - 100 Years Women's Suffrage Award 2000 - Australian Sports Medal 2001 – Centenary Medal 2017 - International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability (INAS) Hall of Fame for services to ID sport