GAMES SUCCESS A SLAM DUNK
MASTERS combatants and organisers have lauded the success of the 2017 event and backed it to go from strength to strenth when it returns in two years’ time.
More than 1500 competitors battled it out in 22 sports during the four-day event, and basketball star Matt Smith said it was great fun on and off the court.
“Everyone had a great time and it was good on a basketball level,” he said.
“And from an economic development standpoint, it gives such a great boost to the city. “The Games brought thousands of people to Cairns, many of whom stayed for four or five nights.”
A star-studded side featuring former NBL greats like Chris Anstey and Cam Rigby, The Hasbeens, were too classy for Smith’s Konstructacons in Saturday’s final at Cairns Basketball Association.
Smith, 37, said despite the heavy loss for his side, he could not have had more fun if he tried at the 2017 Great Barrier Reef Masters Games.
The former Taipans forward landed an impressive dunk early on, but the court was otherwise an unhappy hunting ground for the retired Cairns star on Saturday afternoon.
“It showed I can still jump a bit, but things went downhill from there,” Smith said. “They had too much fire power, every time you turned around there was an NBL quality shooter.”
“There were some guys in that team who I hadn’t seen for 20 years.
“The Games expanded my knowledge of basketball and friendship ground, it’s all about bringing people together for a good time.
“They all enjoyed themselves and are keen to come back again.”
Cairns Regional Council Mayor Bob Manning, who even had a run in a rugby league legends match on Sunday, hailed this year’s Masters Games as a triumph.
“Games like this are special because we get the opportunity to turn back the clock and relive our past triumphs in the sporting arena,” he said.
“Whether it is 87-year-old Ralph Schubert in the track and field, or the diehard rugby league legends who I had the honour to compete with yesterday – these Games provide an opportunity for the years to melt away and to reignite friendships built over many seasons on the sports field.”