Games ends on high note

IT may have not been an Olympic or Commonwealth Games, but I am stoked to have been involved with the successful Pacific Games in PNG over the past three weeks.
The organisers publicly stated that the closing ceremony would be better than the opening, and they were spot on.
The smiles and happiness was infectious as the athletes wound up the 14 days parading in front of proud family and friends at the new million dollar stadium.
I was dubious of their prediction but sat and watched in great awe and admiration of the colourful event.
The venues were magnificent and despite the normal public outcry, the legacy will live on forever.
It gave me great pride, to tell many of the legacy and successes of the Brisbane Commonwealth Games 1982, and more so the potential that 2018 will leave for Australia and Queensland.
I suppose I got a little lucky given the swimming and boxing commentary duties, with both sports very popular in the Pacific region.
Having an international facility for both sports, allowing the athletes not only to strive for perfection but give them the chance to qualify for future higher standard events.
Three swimmers qualified to represent at the up-coming World Championships in Russia – the same event that 21 Sunshine Coast athletes, including Noosa’s Brittany Elmslie, will participate in in the highly ranked Aussie squad.
Most of the medal winning boxers will be heading for the up-coming Oceania Championships to be held in Canberra next month.
A good result will book them a spot on the plane to this year’s world championships.
My point, a young swimmer from New Caledonia or boxer from Fiji now have the chance to climb the ladder without really leaving home.
So as you can read, I was delighted with my involvement, but my personal highlight was catching up with my old schoolmate.
A little greyer, a little bigger but the same smile and laughter he had during our time together from 1968 to 1970 at Toowoomba Grammar school.
What an afternoon it became, reminiscing and talking about where all our old mates are today.
Thankfully, he has agreed to make the trek down to Australia for this year’s annual reunion in August, again catching up with guys he hasn’t seen for near on 50 years.
Talking about years, I was reminded that it was 40 years ago that Jack Newton just missed winning the British Open golf, edged out in a play-off with the great American Tom Watson.
It was only eight years later when he accidently walked into a propeller sustaining terrible injuries that changed his life forever.
But it was that incident that help Noosa gain the enormous national and international profile it enjoys today.
Jack had been a regular visitor for the annual Pro-am, and his 1983 accident sparked local John Piercy to turn the event into a fund-raiser and two-day extravaganza that brought stars of screen, sport, political, business, radio and entertainment. Thanks Jack.
Until next time.