He has been part of the fabric of the Grampian games for four decades.
And in that time Jim Brown has seen the Highland Games continue to expand to the global phenomenon it is today.
But he has said the new £2.5million Duke of Rothesay Highland Games Pavilion is the best development on the site he has seen in his 40 years, first as a competitor and then as an organiser.
Mr Brown, who is the current chairman of the Grampian Highland Games Association and the former head of the national equivalent, said: “I think it’s the most exciting development that’s happened in the Highland games for many, many years.
“I have always felt that there should be a centre for the games, which tells its history, not just for Braemar but all of them worldwide.
“It’s one of the oldest phenomenons in Scotland – the culture, the communities, the heavies and the dancing are all encapsulated in the centre.”
Mr Brown, who competed as a hammer thrower in the north circuit of events, said for him the story of the people and the villages and towns connected to the games was the most important aspect the pavilion would preserve.
He said: “Highland Games are about the communities, none of these events would have happened without them. It’s so important to remember them.
“In many ways it’s never been properly supported by the Scottish Government, it’s effectively a free contribution to tourism because no one gets paid on these organising committees.
“I think it’s an amazing development but it will take a huge amount of work from Braemar and the society, it’s a huge responsibility for them.”
The site overlooks the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park, where the gathering will take place tomorrow.
And the Queen and the duke will also officially unveil the new pavilion, with thousands of people getting their first glimpse of the building.
Inside the centre there are archives dating back hundreds of years now available to the public.
The contents include items from gatherings of the past, such as medals and trophies, as well as documents from the society.
Away from the archives, the centre also incorporates a cafe and gift shop, an exhibition hall and a gallery, which together aim to tell the history of the games, both locally and internationally, and the village’s links to the royal family. There is also a new office for the society.
