Let the Games BeGiN!
The XVIII Commonwealth Games > Melbourne
15 - 26 March 2006
"United By The Moment"
Flinders St Station - The Great Melbourne Icon
Federation Square
Arts Centre...
...turning into a sandpit for the kids
The Volunteers aka Game Officials
Southbank - Yarra River
with floats of indigenous sea creatures (representing each of the 71 nations) lining up directly to MCG Stadium for the opening ceremony to begin!
Sunset at Southbank (overlooking Crown Casino)
Today was a very sentimental day for me. Not because I'm a sport's finatic but mainly because I came to a deep realisation of how quickly time had flown right in front of my eyes..
"United By The Moment"
Flinders St Station - The Great Melbourne Icon
Federation Square
Arts Centre...
...turning into a sandpit for the kids
The Volunteers aka Game Officials
Southbank - Yarra River
with floats of indigenous sea creatures (representing each of the 71 nations) lining up directly to MCG Stadium for the opening ceremony to begin!
Sunset at Southbank (overlooking Crown Casino)
Today was a very sentimental day for me. Not because I'm a sport's finatic but mainly because I came to a deep realisation of how quickly time had flown right in front of my eyes..
It was 6yrs ago today that the Commonwealth Games officials announced Melbourne would be the next city to host the 2006 Games. I remembered vividly; I had just finished year 12 and was heading towards my 4 yrs of university life. I thought to myself hmmm.. by 2006, I would be 24y.o, working full-time at some corporation.. I wondered if I was still going to be here in Melbourne for the Games or living in some other country such as China, Africa, USA, Singapore? The thought of whether or not I would still live to see Melbourne proudly hosting the Commonwealth Games for the world to enjoy even crossed my mind!
So there I was this evening after I had finished my 1st day training (JDA Pro-Space software) in the city at 4:30pm, I took the tram into Federation Square to witness the transformation of the city. Boy there was definitely a different feeling in the air! Everyone was so patriotic! All the people of every race and colour was proud of who they are, where they come from but despite the differences, everyone was proud to be here to witness such a world-wide event, a feeling of this unsung sense of unity....
As I watched the helicopters roaming in the air, the Games officials/Chubb security/police addressing the crowds, the news reporter with their film crews and of course the thousands of ppl that looked like ants covering every area of the city, I couldn't help but feel saddened by just quickly time had flown. Never had I imagine that 6yrs on, my life would be like what it is now: still living in Melbourne, still single, working at a multinational corporation, my closest friends who are my life long friends were the ones I met back in high school years, hearing so many of my friends getting married (like Raymond Hu who's just engaged to Erin and she's 10yrs younger too! as well as Peter who's finally proposed to his g/f of less than a year! and my entire list of weddings this year), to have witnessed so many deaths of loved ones as well as welcoming the new lives being born into this world.. The more I thought about it, the more speechless I became.
So there I was this evening after I had finished my 1st day training (JDA Pro-Space software) in the city at 4:30pm, I took the tram into Federation Square to witness the transformation of the city. Boy there was definitely a different feeling in the air! Everyone was so patriotic! All the people of every race and colour was proud of who they are, where they come from but despite the differences, everyone was proud to be here to witness such a world-wide event, a feeling of this unsung sense of unity....
As I watched the helicopters roaming in the air, the Games officials/Chubb security/police addressing the crowds, the news reporter with their film crews and of course the thousands of ppl that looked like ants covering every area of the city, I couldn't help but feel saddened by just quickly time had flown. Never had I imagine that 6yrs on, my life would be like what it is now: still living in Melbourne, still single, working at a multinational corporation, my closest friends who are my life long friends were the ones I met back in high school years, hearing so many of my friends getting married (like Raymond Hu who's just engaged to Erin and she's 10yrs younger too! as well as Peter who's finally proposed to his g/f of less than a year! and my entire list of weddings this year), to have witnessed so many deaths of loved ones as well as welcoming the new lives being born into this world.. The more I thought about it, the more speechless I became.
The truth is I know I am very blessed to be where I am now, but I can't help to feel this sense of unaccomplishment. There's still so much more I want to achieve and I was so sad to accept the fact that time is and always will be my greatest enemy...
posted by vpmy @ 11:05 pm
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