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OPENING CEREMONY HIGHLIGHTS
Click the link above to view highlights from the Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Games.
Athlete Address
24-year-old Special Olympics Australia athlete ambassador Mel Eustace from Sydney NSW, gave a passionate speech expressing what Special Olympics means to athletes with an intellectual disability.
‘Special Olympics allows me to be healthy, have friends, be fit, enjoy life and achieve,’ she said.
Her mentor and Games Chairman John Trivilliam AM added, ‘Special Olympics is a celebration of ability. It is about people gathering to socialise, practice, train, compete and challenge each other.’
Among the Australian dignitaries to attend the event were:
Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia
Senator the Honourable Mitch Fifield MP, Assistant Minister Social Services, Parliament of Australia
The Honourable Bob Baldwin MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Parliament of Australia
The Honourable Gabrielle Upton MP, Minister for Sport and Recreation, Parliament of New South Wales
The Honourable John Ajaka MP, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Ageing, Parliament of New South Wales
International President Mr Barry Palmer, President of Lions Clubs International and Mrs Anne Palmer
Torch Run
Following an extensive Final Leg Torch Run in which Law Enforcement Officers carried the Flame of Hope from Sydney and through communities in the Hunter and Newcastle, NSW Police Commissioner, Mr Andrew Scipione delivered the Flame of Hope to Australian athlete Geoffrey Kirby at the Opening Ceremony to conclude the Torch Run journey and symbolically open the Games.
Geoffrey, a swimmer from Cardiff South in the Newcastle area, was given the honour of lighting the cauldron, which was designed in the shape of the Games logo. The final 'petals' of the logo were placed in position by Special Olympics athletes and local performers, representing acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities.
Mesmerising Performance
For 31-year-old Special Olympics athlete Stewart Abbott, playing the piano is a way of communicating.
During the Opening Ceremony, he collaborated with Opening Ceremony Creative Director, John Foreman, to perform a grand piano medley which ignited huge applause from the crowd.
Fireworks light up the Newcastle sky during the Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Games. Photo: Phillip Wittke
LOCAL MEDIA COVERAGE
Team Australia athlete Keiran Corry with his family. Photo: Newcastle Herald.
If you caught the Newcastle Herald over coffee this morning you would have been delighted with the coverage of last night’s Opening Ceremony with a photo of Tasmania’s sole athlete and bocce player Donna West gracing the cover. Local athlete Keiran Corry, who will compete in swimming at the Games, also shared the limelight with a story sharing how Special Olympics has positively influenced the Corry family, which includes three siblings with an intellectual disability.
YOUNG ATHLETES LAUNCH
Athletes enjoy the activities at the Special Olympics Young Athletes Fun Day. Photo: Phillip Wittke.
They may be too young to compete in Special Olympics, but that’s not stopping Hunter toddlers and children from getting in on the action of the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Games.
Minister for Sport and Recreation, Gabrielle Upton and Member for Newcastle, Tim Owen, today attended the Young Athletes Fun Day, held at the University of Newcastle, which gives young children between the ages 2-8 a chance to develop their sporting skills through play.
‘Special Olympics Young Athletes program is a unique sport and play program for children with an intellectual disability,’ said Ms Upton.
‘Sport is a fantastic tool to help children of all ages and abilities develop strength, coordination, balance and fitness. The program has been running successfully overseas for a number of years and now Special Olympics Australia is looking to roll it out nationally.’
Tim Owen said, ‘It’s wonderful that the Games has provided so many opportunities for the local community to be involved. More than 100 local children took part in today’s Fun Day.’
The program is supported by Mattel and many of their Australian staff were in Newcastle today.
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News From http://www.specialolympics.com.au/ 
Tenpin bowler, Brianna Duffy from the Gold Coast, QLD is representing Australia for the first time and brought home a ribbon in her singles game earlier this week. Brianna says travelling with Team Australia and meeting new friends is the most exciting part of the Games. She and doubles partner, Josie McLean played well on Thursday morning and are very proud of the scores they achieved.
Josie McLean from Collaroy began bowling at the age of 10 and is the first person in her family of five brothers and sisters to be selected to represent Australia. In addition to tenpin bowling, Josie is also loves hip-hop dancing, gymnastics and swimming. Josie won a bronze medal in her singles game and is looking forward to achieving more great results later this week. Her favourite moments at the Games has been attending the Opening Ceremony and competing in front of her family.
Kleo Charnas from Armidale joined Special Olympics Australia in 1989 and is proud to be part of the Australian athletics team, competing in the 100m sprints, shot put and relay. Kleo says joining Special Olympics has given her confidence and the ability to be independent, while her highlight of the Games is being a member of the Team Australia family.
Maitland local, Jarrod Lantry is on the Aussie football team and has been playing soccer and swimming competitively since a young age. This is his second soccer tournament and first international event with Special Olympics. Jarrod is proud to be wearing the green and gold on home soil and says competing so close to his hometown definitely makes it even better.
20-year-old Taylor Doyle from Oakville, NSW has been competing in athletics since she was nine years old. Aside from being a proud member of the Australian athletics team at the Games, Taylor is also full of talent in the pool. Taylor will be competing in the 100m sprint and long jump later this week and is looking forward to doing her personal best in front of her mum, dad and grandparents who are coming up to watch her race.
Peter Secomb from the Central Coast is honoured to have the opportunity to compete for Australia in cricket, and vows to do his personal best at the Games. Peter’s highlight at the Games so far, has been receiving his baggy green before his first game. He competed in the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai in 2007 and is proud to have kicked the winning goal against Austria to help his team win the bronze medal.
At just 15 years of age, Robert from the Central Coast is one of the youngest athletes on the Australian Team. He is representing Australia in cricket, however he also trains in athletics, swimming, tennis and golf. Robert says his favourite moment of the Games has been walking into Hunter stadium during the Opening Ceremony to a cheering crowd. 
17 year-old Jordan Brown from Warners Bay has overcome remarkable challenges to compete in the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Games. Only able to reach 15 -25 metres when he first began swimming lessons, Jordan represented Australia in the 200 metre event time trials on Opening Ceremony day. Jordan says he ‘is proud’ of his experiences with Special Olympics and has grown in confidence since participating in regular training for the Games. 
Belinda Prince from Newcastle has been training in aquatics twice a week for 12 months in preparation for the Games. She says having the opportunity to represent Australia means so much to her as it allows her to participate in social activities. Belinda has been swimming for 14 years and is incredibly proud to be competing in front her family and friends in Newcastle. She is also a Games athlete ambassador. 
