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.
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Governed by the International Masters Games Association, 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 – with Auckland, New Zealand scheduled to host the major 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.
International Masters Games Association
The International Masters Games Association is the worldwide representative body for Masters sport. Recognised by the International Olympic Committee, the International Masters Games Association aims to support the Olympic movement and promote the sport-for-all philosophy of the Olympic Charter by encouraging all people beyond young adulthood to play sport and to participate in Masters Games with the awareness that competitive sport can continue throughout life and improve personal fitness.
A Board of Governors, consisting of sixteen members elected by the General Assembly for a four-year period, administers the IMGA: - One President - One Honorary Vice President - Ten members from the International Sports Federations, including two from the winter Sports Federations. - One member of a Sport Multidisciplinary Organization.
The International Masters Games Association's board of governors, as of May 2010, was: