New South Wales Premier Nathan Rees declared the Sydney 2009 World Masters Games officially open at the Games Opening Ceremony at ANZ Stadium.

With Games sailing competitor His Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark among the crowd, Premier Rees opened the seventh edition of the world’s largest multi-sport event, with a record 28,292 competitors from 95 countries in Sydney.

The Games Opening Ceremony kicked off with the world’s largest competitors’ parade as the majority of Games registrants took the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Sydney 2000 Olympians by marching into the Sydney Olympic Park arena.

Games competitors ranging in age from 24-year-old Canadian swimming Facundo Chernikoff to 101-year-old Australian lawn bowler Reg Trewin walked into ANZ Stadium after being marshalled into 28 groups, corresponding with the 28 Games sports.

The formal proceedings included the singing of the Australian anthem in two tongues – the first verse in a traditional language of the Eora nation and the subsequent verses in English – speeches by Games Chair Margy Osmond, International Masters Games Association President Kai Holm, Minister Justine Elliot representing the Australian Government and Premier Rees and the unveiling of the Games oath.

The youngest Australian competitor, 24-year-old Sydney swimmer Melanie Speet, and 68-year-old Albert Armstrong, a Melbourne squash player who has taken part in every Games, lead the crowd in the reading of the Games oath written by Games competitor and well known Australian author Peter FitzSimons.

All-star Australian artists of all ages then brought down the curtain on the Games Opening Ceremony.

Nathan Foley, Jessica Mauboy, David Campbell, The McClymonts, Paul Gray, Leo Sayer and John Paul Young got the Opening Ceremony crowd on their feet before, in a nod to the unforgettable Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympics at the same venue, Dein Perry’s Tap Dogs and Tap Pups rounded the night’s entertainment with a spectacular dance routine.

BLK1 Photographer: GETTY IMAGES

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