Inaugural Trans Tasman Masters Games Launched

Friday, 20 September 2002, 11:47 am
Press Release: Alastair Thompson

Today at a function at the Spencer on Byron Hotel, George Wood, Mayor of North Shore City and Glenn Thornton, Director of the Newcastle and Hunter Events Corporation announced the launch of a unique new event on the Auckland sporting calendar - the Trans Tasman Masters Games.

Glenn Thornton, a Director of the Newcastle and Hunter Events Corporation said,

"The launch of the Trans Tasman Masters games (TTMG) in Auckland is a great day for masters sports and sporting competitions between New Zealand and Australia. The TTMG will be a world first with masters games held in two countries on an annual basis. We in Newcastle are very proud to be part of that history. The Newcastle-Hunter region has a great tradition of sport as does New Zealand and in particular Auckland. The inaugural TTMG will build those traditions while developing the traditional masters concepts of good fun, "having a go" and making new friends. We in Newcastle thank you all here in Auckland for your support. We look forward to seeing you in Newcastle in March 2003, and of course to coming here to Auckland for the TTMG in 2004."

The TTMG follow on from the outstandingly successful 8th Australian Masters Games that were held in the Hunter last year. A record 12,000 competitors participated in those Games and Games organisers are confident that over the next few years the TTMG will build to rival the successes the 8th Australian Masters Games.

The inaugural Trans Tasman Masters Games (TTMG) which will be held in the Hunter in March 2003 and Auckland 2004 will be a major event for sporting communities, the economy and the community as a whole. It is an opportunity to enjoy the excitement of the games while meeting and competing against New Zealanders and Australians! There will be over 40 sports to choose from, including a range of codes for athletes with a disability. These are the first masters games to be held in two countries.

Both the Hunter Valley and Auckland have unique attractions that will further enhance the sporting and friendship experience which participants will remember forever. Mayor George Wood of North Shore City added,

"We¹re an active city - our residents love the outdoors, they love sport and keeping fit and healthy - they are masters at it! These games are more than just sport though - we expect many economic and tourism benefits to come out of these thousands of competitors visiting our city. We will be making the best use of all our great facilities for these games. The best way to see our city is to experience it, and sport is a great way to do that.....on the golf course on the harbour, on the beach......"

The Trans Tasman Masters Games has superseeded the North Harbour Masters Games that Sport North Harbour¹s been running for the past 10 years. These games were a great success with many competitors and an abundance of memorable sporting days. The TTMG will pick up these keen sportsmen and women and grow the legacy of Masters Games in the Auckland region.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact: Grant Radovanovich. Sports Manager for the Trans Tasman Masters Games (Auckland) Phone: (09)-415 4614 Email: events@harboursport.co.nz

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Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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