The MC offered the following reflections on the Run:

"Sri Chinmoy founded the Peace Run in 1987, as a dynamic expression of our eternal journey towards a better world.

"Here we are talking about peace, yet through talking we do not achieve peace. Let us rather enjoy a minute's pure silence to embrace peace, to imagine inside our hearts that perfect world where love, joy and oneness reign supreme...

[one minute of silent meditation followed]

"Everything valuable starts in our hearts and in imagination – world peace is no different. If we can imagine a perfect world, then rest assured, that perfect world is just around the corner.

"Sri Chinmoy used to say that if we look at the moon we can either appreciate, love and claim its beauty, or we can analyse and deplore its spots and imperfections.

"In the world around us, we can find many weaknesses and faults if we look for them. Yet carrying this Torch of hope all the way around this vast continent, we have encountered a world of astonishing beauty, blossoming joy, beaming smiles and wide open hearts.

"The message of the Peace Run is to value our goal, and to run towards our goal. To reach here, to stand once more in Civic Square, Canberra, has been our goal since April. The journey of 15 thousand kilometres around Australia has comprised millions of single steps, each step seemingly small and insignificant, yet each an indispensable contribution to the ultimate goal.

"This celebration today could not have happened without each and every one of those millions of steps which have brought us here – steps through sunshine, rain and even hail, steps up mountains, along beaches, across the endless plains of the outback, steps through forests and along city streets, fast steps and slow steps, joyful steps, eager steps ... and even many tired steps.

"The experience of the Peace Run is that if we take one step towards peace, towards love, towards joy, then peace, love and joy come running to embrace us.

"The journey and the goal are inseparable. Without the goal, the journey is pointless, and without the journey the goal is meaningless. The joy and satisfaction of today's celebration is built upon every step that has brought us here together.

"Even so, the ultimate goal of World Peace is being built inside every hopeful heart, every positive thought, every loving deed, every bright smile. We are all the co-creators of the future, and that golden future is here, right here glowing inside our hearts, beaming through our eyes, shining through our smiles.

"Peace is not a distant dream. It is a close, very close reality – as close as our oneness-hearts.

"The words spoken by Sri Chinmoy in Sydney in 1976, ring truer today than ever before: 'There shall come a time when this world of ours will be flooded with peace. Who is to bring about this radical change? It will be you, you and your sisters and brothers. You and your oneness-heart will spread peace throughout the length and breadth of the world.'"