South Island Masters Games

Saturday 11 October 2003

Good morning ....… welcome to the Christchurch of the future.

I say the future because this week, while opening the Age Advantage Forum, it was pointed out that Christchurch is going to have one of the oldest populations of any city in New Zealand soon.

Happily, because I knew the Masters Games were this weekend, I pointed out that the "old" of the future might not look much like the old of the past. I think it was the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, who wrote about not "going gentle into that good night”. We are now having to take a whole new look as a society at people who not only reject the gentle idea but also the going itself.

For maybe the first time in history we are witnessing a completely new form of active ageing. The improvements in health, in nutrition and in life expectancy itself are producing a whole new way of dealing with the passing of time. It's a great change that I think should make all the policy planners looking ahead toward a greyer society take a very optimistic view of how it might look.

I'm told that there are well over 3000 entries for these Master's Games. Even just a quick look at some the ages on the menu make you realise that for a lot of people that that "good night" of Dylan Thomas is likely to be sprinted past for quite some time before it gets even a look in.

We have aerobics competitors of 75, half marathoners of 84 and 100 metre sprinters of 88 taking part in these games. It also appears that not every eye has been on the World Cup across the ditch. One of the information sheets I saw said that we had at least 20 competitors from overseas coming here for these games.

It looks like an enormously full, enormously talented line-up that is going to get equally solid back-up from the host of volunteers and supporters who help make this series of events so run well. It will also provide all of you with a wonderful chance to mingle, socialise and take in the reality of the new active world of middle and older ageing in our modern society.

I find it absolutely wonderful to be around so many people who, although they are older than me, I know are capable of leaving me behind in just about any form of sport you can mention. Having said that I should also mention that I do respond strongly to the prospect of competition. Last weekend I was involved in a go-cart race against some invaders from Wellington.

I'm happy to report they lost, and even happier to report the fellow Christchurch councillor I ran over is responding well to physio. I hope that victory and fun are the winners here, and that physio is only required to improve performance.

I hope you have a great time turning old conventions on their head.