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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1982
FESPIC GAMES OPEN ***
THE 3RD FAR EAST AND SOUTH PACIFIC GAMES FOR THE DISABLED OPENED AT THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE IN SHA TIN IN A BLAZE OF COLOUR TODAY.
OPENING THE GAMES, HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF KENT SAID THE PRESENCE OF THE 800-PLUS COMPETITORS FROM ALL OVER THE FAR EAST AND SOUTH PACIFIC IS A MOST VIVID PROOF OF THE UNCONQUERABLE POWER OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT.+
ATTENDING THE OPENING CEREMONY WERE THE DUCHESS, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE AND LADY YOUDE.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT HONG KONG IS HOSTING THE GAMES WHICH AIM AT PROMOTING THE GENERAL INTEREST AND WELFARE OF DISABLED PEOPLE IN THE REGION IN SPORTS EVENTS.
THE GAMES, WHICH WILL CONTINUE UNTIL NOVEMBER 7, INCLUDE SUCH SPORTS AS AIR RIFLE, ARCHERY, ATHLETICS, FENCING, LAWN BOWLS, SWIMMING, TABLE TENNIS AND WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL.
AFTER WATCHING A DRAGON DANCE AND DISPLAY OF CHINESE DANCING, THE IR ROYAL HIGHNESSES MET INFORMALLY WITH THE TEAM MANAGERS AND PARTICIPANTS.
EARLIER, THE DUKE UNVEILED A SMALL PYRAMID AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE TO MARK THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE CENTRE.
THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES WERE GREETED ON ARRIVAL BY SIR ALBERT RODRIGUES, CHAIRMAN OF THE JUBLIEE SPORTS CENTRE, DR Y. NAKAMURA, PRESIDENT OF THE FESPIC FEDERATION, AND DR HARRY FANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE FESPIC GAMES ORGANISING COMMITTEE.
FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE DUKE'S SPEECH
+SIR ALBERT RODRIGUES, DR FANG, YOUR EXCELLENCIES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
+IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT THE DUCHESS AND I ARE ABLE TO JOIN YOU HERE TODAY FOR THE OPENING OF THE 3RD FAR EAST AND SOUTH PACIFIC PARAPLEGIC GAMES FOR THE DISABLED. WE ARE AWARE OF THE TREMENDOUS VITALITY AND GROWTH OF INTERNATIONAL SPORTS MOVEMENTS FOR THE DISABLED WORLDWIDE AND IT IS MOST ENCOURAGING TO SEE THE WAY IN WHICH THESE REGIONAL GAMES HAVE GROWN SO DRAMATICALLY OVER THE YEARS UNTIL TODAY WE HAVE MORE THAN 800 COMPETITORS FROM ALL OVER THE FAR EAST AND SOUTH PACIFIC. THE IR PRESENCE IS A MOST VIVID PROOF OF THE UNCONQUERABLE POWER OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT.
+1 CONGRATULATE ALL THOSE IN HONG KONG WHO HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO BRING THE GAMES HERE AND TO STAGE THEM AS THE FIRST EVENT TO BE HELD IN THIS FINE NEW JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE.
I NOW WISH ALL PARTICIPANTS EVERY SUCCESS AND THE BEST OF LUCK.
+I NOW DECLARE OPEN THE 1982 FESPIC GAMES FOR THE DISABLED.+
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