AYOF 2013: Geoff Martin has been honoured many times in his illustrious career, but reading the officials' oath at the Opening Ceremony of the Australian Youth Olympic Festival (AYOF) is one he will always remember.

"I'm so thankful to have been chosen by the Australian Olympic Committee," Martin said.

A lifetime member of the Australian Athletics Federation, he said reading the oath will be a great experience.

"For me it's a great honour to be chosen from all the Olympic sports," he said.

"But most of all I'm very pleased that athletics is being recognised in this way."

A sprinter during the 1960s, Martin was also the official chief starter for Track and Field at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

"Being a starter at the Olympics in your own country is something I think you'll always remember," he said.

"Sydney just sticks in your mind.

"I’ll always remember the official timekeeper standing next to me before the men’s 100m final and he said to me, 'Do you realise how many billion people are watching?' and that's when I thought to myself, you wouldn't want to stuff it up would you!"

Annie Kearney
Olympics.com.au