Let the games begin

Thousands of athletes take part in 18 sports throughout Cairns region

l CAIRNS REGION

| Nick Dalton

MORE than 2400 athletes are registered to take part in the sixth biennial Great Barrier Reef Masters Games (GBRMG).

An Olympic gold medallist and a NQ Cowboys legend have also arrived in Cairns to be part of the games.

The games got underway on Wednesday with FNQ Games ambassador and Cowboys icon Matt Bowen putting 30 students from the Trinity Bay State High Rugby Academy of Excellence through their paces with a special NRL clinic.

Yesterday 30 keen squad members got some valuable pointers from games ambassador and Olympic legend Leisel Jones OAM at Tobruk Memorial Pool.

Yesterday afternoon, the Hasbeens all-stars Basketball team, which includes Chris Anstey, Sam Mackinnon, and Matt Burston, shared their knowledge with 30 eager students at the Cairns High Bou-wa Centennial Hall.

The opening ceremony kicked off at Barlow Park last night.

Emulating other major sporting games, GBRMG participants marched into the arena and around the athletics track proudly bearing their sports signs while being supported by local entertainers, including a fire dancer, Taiko drummers and Brazilian dancers.

Ms Jones officially launched the games, while Matt Bowen lit the games cauldron, which has been provided by Origin Energy.

More than 2400 athletes are taking part in 18 sports, from archery to track and field, basket-