'ODT' reporter honoured with lighting flame

Otago Daily Times sports reporter Alistair McMurran lights the Master Games flame at the event's opening ceremony at the Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, on Saturday. Photo by Peter McIntosh.

After covering every Masters Games held in Dunedin, Otago Daily Times sports reporter Alistair McMurran was rewarded with the honour of igniting the games flame.

• ODT coverage of the Masters Games 2012

The flame was lit during the event's opening ceremony at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday and will burn throughout the event, which runs until Sunday.

Games manager Aaron Joy said the committee was unanimous in deciding to give Mr McMurran, who is covering the 11th Dunedin games, the honour.

"We really wanted to acknowledge the superb job that Alistair does in providing the games with news coverage. There are 70 sporting events at the games and Alistair works tirelessly over the 10 days to get to as many as he can. We believe he captures the very essence of the games."

Mr McMurran was passionate about the games because of the camaraderie and dedication of competitors, as well as the role it played in raising awareness of fitness and health in the community.

"I really enjoy the enthusiasm and energy of the competitors of all ages, particularly those in older age groups who are an inspiration to us all.

"I think the Government should help fund the Masters Games as a preventive measure which could translate into savings for the country's health budget."

Mr McMurran, who joined the ODT in 1975, was a keen sportsman and coached many notable New Zealand long-distance runners including Dick Tayler, who won gold in the 10,000m race at the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch in 1974, Euan Robertson, who was sixth in the 3000m steeplechase at the Montreal Olympics in 1976, and John Campbell, who finished 12th in the marathon at the Seoul Olympics in 1988.

Tayler, who was at the Masters Games for the seventh time as an ambassador, said of Mr McMurran: "Arthur Lydiard always said to me that he got the credit but that Ali had done the work."