Olympians invited to Auckland 2017 World Masters Games

16 | 8 | 2016

At a special presentation at the Rio 2016 Olympians Reunion Centre by EY, the Auckland 2017 World Masters Games offered an invitation to Olympians around the world to take part in the next edition of the multi-sport event.

The World Masters Games, which is taking place in Auckland, New Zealand from 21-30 April next year, is the largest multi-sport event in the world, with up to 25,000 athletes of all abilities expected to compete across 28 different sports. Falling under the umbrella of the International Masters Games Association (IMGA) and accredited by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the event will welcome athletes from as young as 25-years-old* to participate in a range of disciplines.

Auckland 2017 Ambassador, double Olympian Anthony Mosse, who competed in swimming for New Zealand at the Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul 1988 Olympic Games, believes the Masters Games provide Olympians with the perfect opportunity to stay in their chosen sport and continue competing once their Olympic career has come to a close.

“It was an amazing honour for me to represent my country”, Mosse said. “I look back at my competitive career very fondly. I remember standing behind the blocks, the adrenalin is running and I’m getting ready to race, fulfilling goals that I had spent years and years putting together.

“As we move through life our goals change and that’s where the World Masters Games comes in. My goals now are to get back in the pool, get back in shape, spend time with friends and perhaps even try one of the other 27 sports that are part of the World Masters Games programme.

“The World Masters Games is a unique event, one that offers masters athletes of all ages and abilities the chance to compete again on the world stage in an Olympic-like multi-sport format in world class facilities.”

“It also promotes the sport for all philosophy of the Olympic charter and reminds us that sport is a lifelong passion, unlimited by age, sex, status or religion.”

He went on to add the there was a great sense of camaraderie around the event and, similar to the Olympians Reunion Centre, allows athletes to come together, catch up with old friends and stay involved with the sport they love.

For more information about the Auckland 2017 World Masters Games please visit: http://www.worldmastersgames2017.co.nz

Olympians who sign up will also be offered a discount on the entry fee. For more information on this please contact: jennah.wootten@wmg2017.co.nz.

*Different disciplines have different minimum age requirements. All sports competitions are run to international federation rules and guidelines. Many sports also offer different grades of competition from competitive to social allowing Olympians to compete against athletes of similar capability and win medals.