Fire Callout Prematurely Extinguishes NZ Masters Games Flame

7 February 2012

Fire Call Out Prematurely Extinguishes NZ Masters Games Flame

When the Manager of the New Zealand Masters Games in Dunedin arrived at the Games Village in the Forsyth Barr Stadium this morning he was not impressed that the Games torch was no longer burning. In the same tradition as the Olympic flame, the Games flame is ignited at the opening ceremony and burns for the duration of the ten day Games.

After further investigation Aaron Joy learnt that at about 1am this morning a member of the public who was driving past the Forsyth Barr Stadium became alarmed when they saw fire inside the stadium and they immediately called the fire brigade. The security guard, who was about to finish for the night was perplexed by the arrival of police and two fire engines.

On discovering that the inferno threatening the multi-million dollar stadium was in fact a lone flame measuring 50cms in height all parties agreed, in the heat of the moment, to extinguish it until the morning.

Aaron Joy says he wishes to reassure the public that the gas fuelled flame is housed in fire proof surrounds and meets all safety specifications. Prior to the Games the Fire Brigade were notified that the flame would be burning at the Game Village.

This is the fifth Masters Games that Aaron Joy has managed in Dunedin and he says dousing the flame has to be a first.

“I’ve had to deal with some tricky situations in my time but having the symbolic life of the Games snuffed out prematurely is not one I ever anticipated. I don’t think it’s ever happened at the Olympics!”

The Masters Games torch has been reignited and the flame will continue to flicker until the Games end on Sunday 12 February.

NZ Masters Games 2012
Dunedin
February 4 – 12
www.nzmg.com

ENDS