omniture

Australian squash legend Sarah Fitz-Gerald has a golden run at World Masters Games 2017

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, April 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Sarah Fitz-Gerald has lived up to her reputation as one of Australia's greatest ever squash players, winning gold in her division at the World Masters Games 2017 in Auckland.

ATEED/World Masters Games 2017: http://www.prnasia.com/mnr/wmg2017.shtml

Fitz-Gerald, the five time world squash champion, has added another world title to her name after beating her New Zealand opponent, Lisa Cowling, in three games in the finals.

The passionate Australian has been one of the ambassadors for this year's Games in Auckland and was an ambassador for the Sydney World Masters Games 2009.

"The Games is such a great place to catch up with old friends, play some squash, and spend some time exploring Auckland. There's been an absolutely fantastic atmosphere here, everything has been wonderful," she says.

"I hadn't been to Auckland for a while and there's been an explosion of restaurants that have popped up in the city since I was last here.

"I've also made a new discovery, and that's Takapuna, which is only a 10 minute drive from the central city, and has a great beach and cafe scene."

Her achievements and services to squash, along with her promotion of sport and a healthy lifestyle, have seen her inducted into the highly prestigious Sport Australia Hall of Fame and awarded the Member of the Order of Australia.

Auckland is playing host to 28,000 World Masters Games 2017 participants from around New Zealand and across the globe, including almost 7,000 Australians. The event is the largest multisport event in the world, and is bigger in scale than the Olympics in terms of athletes participating. 

Competition in 28 sports at 48 WMG2017 venues around Auckland and two in the Waikato is underway, and runs until 30 April.

Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) bid to host WMG2017 in partnership with the New Zealand Government, and is delivering the event through a separate subsidiary company.

ATEED Chief Executive Brett O'Riley says WMG2017 will be the largest participation sports event New Zealand will host in the next decade.

"Hosting major events helps showcase Auckland to the world, giving people a reason to visit, to stay longer and to experience more of what we have to offer."

For further information please contact

Anika Forsman

Acting Media Manager

P +64-9-365-0523

M +64-220-261130
E anika.forsman@aucklandnz.com

Visit Auckland

@Auckland_NZ

 

Source: Auckland Tourism, Events & Economic Development (ATEED)
collection