# World Masters Games

The World Masters Games is an international multi-sport event held every four years which, in terms of competitor numbers, has developed into the largest of its kind. Governed by the International Masters Games Association (IMGA), the World Masters Games is open to sports people of all abilities and most ages – the minimum age criterion ranges between 25 and 35 years depending on the sport. Auckland, New Zealand hosted the event's ninth edition from 21 to 30 April 2017.
Anyone can participate in the games so long as they are over the age of 35 though some sports will allow athletes who are younger than that. Participants compete for themselves – there are no country delegations. Beyond the age requirement and membership in that sport's governing body, there are no competition qualification requirements.

## History

Toronto staged the first World Masters Games in 1985. Since then, World Masters Games has also taken place in Aalborg, Aarhus and Herning (1989), Brisbane (1994), Portland, Oregon (1998), Melbourne (2002), Edmonton (2005) and Sydney (2009). The Sydney 2009 World Masters Games attracted a record 28,676 competitors. This is more than double the number of competitors that took part in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
The Games has been popular with retired professional athletes and former Olympic competitors, with over 230 past Olympians taking part in the 2009 edition.

## Summer Games

| Edition | Year | Host | Sports | Countries | Competitors | Motto |
| 1 | 1985 | Toronto | 22 | 61 | 8,305 | The Year of the Masters |
| 2 | 1989 | Aalborg, Aarhus, Herning | 37 | 76 | 5,500 | Sport for life |
| 3 | 1994 | Brisbane | 30 | 74 | 24,500 | The challenge never ends |
| 4 | 1998 | Portland | 28 | 102 | 11,400 | The global celebration of sport for life |
| 5 | 2002 | Melbourne | 26 | 98 | 24,886 | The biggest multi-sport festival on Earth |
| 6 | 2005 | Edmonton | 25 | 89 | 21,600 | A festival of sport in the city of festivals |
| 7 | 2009 | Sydney | 28 | 95 | 28,676 | Fit, fun and forever young |
| 8 | 2013 | Turin | 30 | 99 | 15,394 | Sport for life, Sport for all |
| 9 | 2017 | Auckland | 28 | 100 | 28,578 | For the Love of Sport |
| 10 | 2025 | Taipei, New Taipei | 32 | – | – | Sports beyond Age & Life without Limits |
| 11 | 2027 | Kansai | | – | – | |
| 12 | 2029 | Perth | | | | |

### 2013 World Masters Games
#### Venues

* Stadio Olimpico – Archery
* Stadio Primo Nebiolo – Athletics
* Stadio del Ghiaccio PalaTazzoli – Badminton
* Passobuole – Baseball, Softball
* Cus Panetti – Basketball, Volleyball (beach)
* Cus E11 Modigliani – Basketball
* Cus palaBallin – Basketball
* Cus Moncrivello – Basketball
* Cus E10 Alvaro – Basketball
* Cus Palaruffini – Basketball
* Cus Palestra Braccini – Basketball
* Palestra Parri – Volleyball
* Cus Centro 2D – Volleyball
* Sebastopoli – Volleyball
* Manzoni – Volleyball
* Cus Bertolla – Volleyball (beach)
* Cus PalaVela – Volleyball (beach)
* CH4 Sporting Club- Volleyball
* A.s.d Pozzo Strada – Lawn bowls (lyonnaise, raffa, lawn bowls)
* A.s.d Petanque Taurinense e la Mole – Lawn bowls (petanque)
* Torino Fiume Po – Canoeing
* Ivrea – Canoeing
* Lago di Candia – Canoeing
* Piscina Acquatica – Canoeing
* Parco del Valentino – Athletics, Cycling Road Race, Duathlon, Triathlon
* Parco Leopardi – Cycling Mountain Bike
* Velodromo Francone – Cycling Track
* Campi Pellerina – Football
* Santa Rita – Football
* Cbs -Football
* Cenisia – Football
* Beppe Viola – Football
* Rapid Torino – Football
* Golf Club Torino La Mandria – Golf
* Royal Park i Roveri – Golf
* Hockey club Bra – Hockey
* Stadio Tazzol – Hockey
* Palestra Centro Storico – Judo, Karate
* Sestriere Torino – Orienteering
* Cesana Torinese
* Pragelato
* Bardonecchia
* Lago di Candia – Rowing
* Impianto Angelo Albonico – Rugby
* Circolo Vela Orta – Sailing
* Remiro Gozzano
* Shooting range Racconigi Tiro Valo – Shooting Clay Target
* Poligono Tiro a Segno Nazionale – Shooting Pistol and Rifle
* Sport City Torino – Squash
* Palanuoto – Swimming
* Stadio del ghiaccio Tazzoli – Table tennis
* PalaMirafiori – Taekwondo
* Sporting Club La Stampa – Tennis
* Palasport Le Cupole – Weightlifting
* Giovanni Paolo II – Baseball, Softball
* Impianto Fanton – Softball
* Servais – Softball

### 2017 World Masters Games
#### Venues

* ASB Showgrounds – Archery Indoor
* Massey Archery Club – Archery Field
* Cornwall Park – Archery Target
* The Trusts Arena – Athletics Track and Field, Volleyball Indoor
* Auckland Domain – Athletics Cross Country
* Auckland Waterfront – Athletics Road Running, Cycling Time Trial, Triathlon
* Auckland Badminton Centre – Badminton
* North Harbour Badminton Centre – Badminton
* Lloyd Elsmore Park – Baseball, Rugby union
* AUT University, North Shore Campus – Basketball
* Bruce Pulman Park – Basketball, Touch Football
* The North Shore Events Centre – Basketball
* Lake Pupuke – Canoeing Canoe Polo, Dragon Boating, Canoe Racing and Waka Ama
* Wero – Canoeing Canoe Slalom
* Takapuna Beach – Canoeing Ocean Racing and Waka Ama, Surf Life Saving, Swimming Open Water
* Lake Karapiro – Rowing
* Wynyard Quarter – Cycling Criterium
* Woodhill Mountain Bike Park – Cycling Mountain Biking
* Avantidrome, Cambridge – Cycling Track
* Clevedon Roads – Cycling Road Race
* North Harbour Stadium (QBE Stadium) – Football, Hockey
* Westlake Boys and Girls High School – Football, Hockey
* Akarana Golf Club – Golf
* Muriwai Golf Club – Golf
* Pakuranga Golf Club – Golf
* Remuera Golf Club – Golf
* Carlton Cornwall Bowls – Lawn bowls
* Mt Eden Bowling Club – Lawn bowls
* Auckland Netball Centre – Netball
* Woodhill forest – Orienteering Long distance
* Massey University (Albany Campus) – Orienteering Sprint Model
* The University of Auckland (Epsom Campus) – Orienteering Sprint Qualification
* The University of Auckland (City Campus) – Orinteering Sprint Finals
* Torbay Sailing Club – Sailing
* Waitemata Clay Target Club – Shooting
* North Harbour Softball Stadium – Softball
* Rangitoto College – Softball
* North Shore Squash Club – Squash
* AUT Millennium – Swimming Pool, Weightlifting
* Auckland Table Tennis Centre – Table tennis
* Albany Tennis Centre – Tennis
* Mairangi Bay Beach Volleyball Centre – Volleyball Beach
* West Wave Aquatic Centre – Water polo
* Eden Park – Opening ceremony
* Entertainment Hub Queens Wharf – Closing ceremony

## Winter Games

| Edition | Year | Host | Sports | Countries | Competitors | Motto |
| 1 | 2010 | Bled | 7 | 42 | 3,000 | The Games for you |
| 2 | 2015 | Quebec City | 9 | 20 | 1,600 | * |
| 3 | 2020 | Innsbruck | 12 | | 3,500 | Spirit Together |
| 4 | 2024 | Lombardy | | | | |
| 5 | 2028 | Lahti | | | | |

## Sports

2017 Summer Games Sports List (28) :
* Archery
* Athletics
* Badminton
* Baseball
* Basketball
* Canoe
* Cycling
* Football
* Golf
* Hockey
* Lawn Bowls
* Netball
* Orienteering
* Rowing
* Rugby
* Sailing
* Shooting
* Softball
* Squash
* Surf Lifesaving
* Swimming
* Table Tennis
* Tennis
* Touch Football
* Triathlon
* Volleyball
* Water Polo
* Weightlifting

## Americas Masters Games

The Americas Masters Games is a regional multi-sport event which involves participants from the Americas region. Governed by the International Masters Games Association (IMGA), the Americas Masters Games is open to participants of all abilities and most ages – the minimum age criterion is 30 years. Participants compete for themselves, instead of their countries. There are no competition qualification requirements apart from the age requirement and membership in that sport's governing body.
The event's first edition was hosted by Vancouver, Canada from 26 August to 4 September 2016. The second edition was scheduled for 2020 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.