Athletes and officials oaths and official opening of Gay Games VIII

Matthew Mitcham reads the athletes' oath, Simon Assboeck reads the officials' oath, and together they declare Gay Games VIII open!

Oath of the Participants
I, Matthew Mitcham, on behalf of all the participants in this stadium, pledge to fully participate in the Gay Games by honoring the spirit of their origins.
I pledge to celebrate the uniqueness of these Games in their purest realm of sportsmanship, where there is no shame of failure, only glory in achievement and the shared fulfillment of each personal best.
In these Games I have no rivals; only comrades in unity.

Oath of the Officials
I, Simone Assboeck, on behalf of all officials in this stadium, pledge to fairly officiate in the Gay Games,
To honor the spirit of their origins by celebrating the true meaning of sportsmanship,
By judging impartially and without prejudice.
I pledge to respect the talents of all participants who come to these Games, where self-esteem is fostered through fairness, to all who seek and find victory in a personal best.