Barry van Gorp is known as the "Flying Dutchman" for the work he has done as the boss of Otago football for 28 years.
He is the man who lifted the sport out of the doldrums and has made Otago football a strong competitive force in the country.
He is one of four dedicated Otago people who will be awarded New Zealand Masters Games life awards during the official opening ceremony at the University Union tonight.
The other recipients are Barbara White (athletics), Steve Prescott (swimming) and Marinus Boon (indoor rowing).
The awards are designed to honour people who have made a significant contribution to the New Zealand Masters Games.
Van Gorp was the kingpin of Otago football from 1977 to 2005 and filled the important roles of chairman of the Soccersouth federation, CEO of Football Otago and director on the Otago youth development board for overseas tours.
He was an initiator of national league club Otago United and the organiser of national masters football.
He was on so many committees that he hardly had time to carry out his love of refereeing.
But he always grabbed the occasional game of super oldies football.
Van Gorp has made a huge contribution to the Masters Games and it has been his energy that has seen football numbers at Dunedin Games increase from 180 in 1992 to 800 this year.
He took up the role of football co-ordinator for the Masters Games when they first started in Dunedin in 1992. This year, the tournament will comprise more than 800 players, the largest football tournament at a New Zealand Masters Games.
The dramatic growth in popularity of football at the Games can largely be attributed to the determination and hard work of van Gorp, through his passion and commitment to the sport.
A heart attack at the age of 40 proved a turning point for Steve Prescott, the manager of Moana Pool.
It inspired him on to a path of physical activity that has propelled him to success at an international level.
Prescott has won five gold medals in the pool at the World Masters Games, breaking records each time.
He has won 17 medals at the World Masters Games for swimming and the triathlon.
Barbara White is a face that will be recognised by many in Dunedin, as she is often seen getting her regular quota of exercise by walking around the city's streets.
White credits walking with "keeping her sane", but it is also the friends she makes that has seen her compete in nine Masters Games in Dunedin and three in Wanganui. This year she is competing in the walks: 5km, 10km and the half-marathon.
Marinus Boon first joined a gymnasium at the age of 54 when he gave up smoking and started weight training.
He credits his change of lifestyle to making him the healthy and happy man that he is today.
At the age of 75 Boon saw an advertisement for the Masters Games on television and said to his wife: "I can beat those people".
He took up indoor rowing, registered for the Masters Games, and now holds nine world records.
Boon (81) is keen to break more indoor rowing world records at this year's Games.
A total of 6000 competitors from 16 countries have been registered for the Games which start in Dunedin today and continues until February 7.
The opening ceremony will be at the University Union tonight at 7pm.
The march past of athletes starts at 6.45pm.
• TV One's Close Up programme will be broadcast from the Games headquarters at the University Union next Wednesday.
