Visiting overseas and NZ sportspeople were this afternoon welcomed to the Proud To Play glbti sports event in a formal opening ceremony which included a powhiri and entertainment by a Ngati Whenua cultural group. Visiting competitors assemble ready to be welcomed (Pic: GayNZ.com/Andrea) Around 70 competitors from Australia, the USA, France and beyond Auckland were challenged and welcomed at Auckland's waterfront Silo Park with a tangata whenua speaker encouraging the visitors to enjoy the delights of Auckland and to "play hard." A trans-Tasman hongi (Pic: GayNZ.com/Andrea) The welcoming group included Auckland Pride co-chair Kirsten Sibbit, trangender rights activist Lexie Matheson, MP Louisa Wall, Rainbow Youth manager Duncan Matthews and Auckland mayor Len Brown. The welcome and formal opening was part of a week-long glbti sports festival running until next Saturday, with most events being held in the environs of the Trusts Arena in West Auckland. A well-received mini-concert after this afternoon's formalities included a haka and a cultural mash-up of the Sound Of Music song Do-Re-Me sung Maori-style.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 13th February 2016 - 5:28pm