Opening of the 2009 World Masters Games speech

11 October 2009

Your Royal Highness, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Federal and State Ministerial colleagues Mr Kai Holm, President of the International Masters Games Association, Members of the Games’ Board of Directors and Advisory Committee, distinguished guests and friends.

First to all our visitors from overseas, welcome to Australia!

Welcome to our great city of Sydney.

You are among friends in a proud, sports-loving nation.

A nation built on a rich history of social harmony and cultural diversity.

And to my fellow Australians, thank you for being part of this magnificent opening ceremony.

This time nine years ago the eyes of the world were fixed on this very stadium as we celebrated the best Olympic Games ever.

Indeed some of you took home the ultimate accolade from that event.

Tonight the quest for gold begins again.

Not just for gold medals.

But for even more precious rewards:

• the true gold of friendship and understanding,
• self-fulfilment,
• achieving your personal best.

As Premier of this State, I’m deeply honoured to welcome you at the start of this very special journey.

Perhaps never before in history has our world been more closely bound together in the face of global challenges and yet more urgently in need of the unifying power of sport.

These Games are among the great forces for international goodwill and understanding.

The number of competitors - more than 28,000 - is greater than at any of the six previous Games since their inauguration.

They are now the world’s largest multi-sport event, attracting more than twice the number of competitors as the Olympics.

That is a genuine cause for pride - reflecting credit on the organisers, on the participating nations and above all for you, the athletes.

You show, by your presence, that age is no barrier to achievement and to the fulfilment of our dreams.

Much work has gone into the organisation of this event.

I pay tribute to the Games Organising Committee, to the International Masters Games Association and their staff and to our wonderful volunteer workforce of more than 5,000 people.

Thank you and well done.

To everyone competing over the coming week, I wish you good the best of luck.

It is now my privilege to announce the arrival of the International Masters Games flag in this arena.

And in the presence of that proud symbol of global goodwill - and in this great company - I declare the 2009 Sydney World Masters Games officially open.