https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWKZq0fHGcc
Friday 26 September
On this day twenty years ago, the masters games concept as we knew it changed forever.
More than 23,000 masters-aged athletes from 71 countries converged on the sunshine state’s capital, Brisbane, to compete in 30 sports as part of the 3rd World Masters Games from 26 September to 8 October 1994.
While the Canadian (1985) and Danish (1989) World Masters Games both achieved good international representation during a time when masters games was a relatively new phenomenon, the total number of competitors of these events could not compare with Brisbane.
It was heralded as the biggest multi-sport event in the world (a title it still holds today) and is regarded as the most successful masters games in history.
The event not only set the benchmark for all future masters games in Australia and the world, it inspired, encouraged and reaffirmed Queensland’s decision to host their own state based masters games.
And so, in May 1995, Queensland hosted the inaugural Malanda Queensland Masters Games in Townsville which attracted close to 2,500 participants and set a new record for a first state masters games in Australia.
Its success, built on the same foundations set by the 1994 World Masters Games, led to the second Malanda Masters Games being held on the Gold Coast in 1996 which welcomed more than double the amount of participants from the previous year.
The significant positive economic impact for the Gold Coast ignited discussions to develop the concept of a biennial international masters games for Queensland.
Two years later, the Gold Coast became home to the inaugural Asia Pacific Masters Games, now known to all as the Pan Pacific Masters Games, the biggest biennial masters games in the world.
It celebrates its ninth instalment this November with a record-breaking 12,500 plus participants, supporters and non-playing officials expected to compete across 42 sports.
The legacy of the 1994 Brisbane World Masters Games remains integral in the delivery and execution of the Pan Pacific Masters Games as we continue to strive towards reaching the same heights of the greatest masters games in history.
Over the next two weeks, we will be sharing with you personal stories direct from the organising committee of the 1994 Brisbane World Masters Games, pieces of memorabilia and much more on our social media channels.
Pan Pacific Masters Games CEO Cameron Hart, who had previously volunteered at the 3rd Australian Masters Games in Brisbane in 1991, worked as a World Masters Games Sports Liaison Officer for the sport of touch, judo, shooting and indoor cricket.
He later went on to become Executive Director of the Queensland Touch Association during the delivery of the 1994 World Masters Games, overseeing the touch program with the Sport Convenor Barry Doyle, and played touch with the Koki Seaside team from Papua New Guinea and also refereed some touch matches.
Cameron will be sharing some of his fond memories as well.
But, we want to hear from you also, the participants of the 1994 Brisbane World Masters Games! If you were a competitor, a volunteer or a spectator of Australia’s biggest ever multi-sport event, we would love to hear from you.
Email us at social@mastersgames.com.au, post a comment on our Facebook page (facebook.com/PanPacMasters) or tweet us at (twitter.com/PanPacMasters) for your chance to have your story shared with thousands.
The new system was born here and filagra this is not something that we would like to see. Caverta although better in some elements but not significant for us.
