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The Gold Coast Sports Festival 2019, powered by Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), began with celebrations last night in which more than 250 young Australians participated in the opening ceremony at Kurrawa Park, Gold Coast.

In its second year as part of the wider SportAccord programme, the Sports Festival’s opening ceremony featured demonstrations in breaking (a fusion of sport and urban culture), taekwondo, lacrosse and 3x3 basketball, as well as musical performances from a number of children and teenagers from the local area.

His Excellency Ban Ki-moon and GAISF Leader Dr Raffaele Chiulli were among the distinguished guests in attendance at the event.

“I am a strong believer in the transformative power of sport,” eighth United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in his opening address.

“We can achieve many things through sport. Every individual must be able to practice sport without discrimination.

“There is no limit to what we can achieve if we work together.”

The theme of this year’s three-day Sports Festival is “United Through Youth”. SportAccord delegates from all over the world were invited to celebrate sport with the young people of Australia. Over 60 International Federations took the opportunity to showcase their sport and create opportunities for local children to try a range of new activities.

“The Sports Festival is a wonderful opportunity for International Federations to reach new audiences and connect with the youth of Australia – this is what it is all about,” Dr Chiulli said. “Through the universal language of sport we can achieve respect for all, and the Sports Festival is a perfect example of that.”

GAISF has worked closely with the Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport (AIMS), the Queensland Government and the United Through Sports initiative to create a unique and diverse programme which reflects the culture of Australia.

Taking place at the famous Kurrawa Park, Broadbeach, the Sports Festival is just five minutes’ walk from the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, where SportAccord 2019 is currently taking place.

The Sports Festival has 11 different zones, including the beach, the tatami, the ring and the urban zones. Local schools and youth clubs have been invited to try out the sports, with special demonstrations and interactive presentations happening throughout the week.

The Festival has been greeted with much enthusiasm by residents of Gold Coast with Mayor Tom Tate stating "our city prides itself on promoting a highly active lifestyle among all our residents, but the involvement of children in activities that encourage them to participate in sport is an absolute priority.

"The Gold Coast Sports Festival 2019 recognises that sport participation begins at the early stage of education, at the grassroots level, and it is something I support wholeheartedly.”

Images show the opening on the Gold Coast Sports Festival 2019.

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