Commonwealth Games 2018: Spirit of friendship guides our mission for best Games ever
GOLDOC chairman Peter Beattie’s speech at the opening ceremony on the Gold Coast celebrated true Australian hospitality, our friendly spirit and the unity that an event like the Commonwealth Games brings.
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AUSTRALIANS are a warm and fun-loving people – we judge others by what’s in their hearts, not where they come from, because in the end we all share the same place.
These Games allow us an invitation and an opportunity to invite the world to join us and experience true Australian hospitality, because we are the friendliest people on the planet.
Right now, there are more than a billion people from all over the world watching us and this moment that connects us all, here in this beautiful meeting place on the Gold Coast.
It reminds us of what we all share in common: this fragile blue planet, our home, the vastness of this universe.
In this island home of Australia, one of the many wise teachings shared by our indigenous people is that we are indeed all part of the one place – we’re all custodians of the world we share and are charged with looking after it for future generations.
Something that is a precious ideal for all Australians, this ideal has been central in the preparation of these Commonwealth Games for passing on the baton to the next host city, Birmingham, in four years time.
Our promise to all of you is that over the next 11 days, we’ll be focused on making these Games special, leaving us all with fantastic memories of what happens when we come together with open hearts and the spirit of friendship.
This is a commitment made by thousands of people – our everyday heroes working behind the scenes, the wonderful volunteers who have worked so hard to bring to life the meaning behind the words “The Friendly Games”.
We have taken our custodianship of the 21st Commonwealth Games to heart and invite you all to share the dream.
So ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls – whoever you are, wherever you are from – enjoy your time with us in Queensland which is “beautiful one day, perfect the next”.
Welcome to Australia. Welcome to Queensland. And welcome to the Gold Coast.
This is GOLDOC chairman Peter Beattie’s speech from the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony on the Gold Coast.
Originally published as Commonwealth Games 2018: Spirit of friendship guides our mission for best Games ever
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