Commonwealth Games Head of Sport joins World Masters Games 2017

Australian Greg Warnecke has been announced as the General Manager, Sports and Venues for World Masters Games 2017.

Warnecke will join World Masters Games 2017 following five years as Head of Sport for Glasgow 2014, the organising committee for the recent XX Commonwealth Games.

World Masters Games 2017 Chief Executive Jennah Wootten said she was thrilled to have attracted someone of Warnecke’s international experience to the pivotal role of General Manager of Sports and Venues.

Wootten stated “staging a multi-sport event of this size is a major undertaking and we were looking for a seasoned professional to take the helm.

“With 25,000 athletes expected to compete in 28 sports and 45 disciplines over 10 days of competition, the World Masters Games is the biggest event of its kind in the world.

“Greg will work with our 28 sports partners to bring together one united event.

“He brings to the team outstanding and extremely relevant experience and we couldn’t be more pleased to have him on board.”

Wootten said the Games’ complexities included not only the number of sports but also the number of venues, the different age categories and the inclusion of eight para sports, adding “athlete experience is paramount when it comes to staging a successful and memorable event.

“Our goal is to create our own version of the ‘best Games ever’ so that competitors travelling to New Zealand feel the trip was worth every cent. Getting the sports programme right is the central ingredient.”

Warnecke is currently on wrap-up duties in Glasgow and will join World Masters Games 2017 on 13th October.

Welcoming his new role, Warnecke stated “it has been an unbelievable experience working on the Commonwealth Games and my ambition was always to move from here to another great sports event.

“World Masters Games 2017 will be bigger than the Commonwealth Games in both athlete numbers and venues and integrating them is at the very heart of the challenge of multi-sport events.

“I’ve enjoyed living in Scotland but equally look forward to working in Auckland, New Zealand where I know the sporting culture, passion and energy is second to none.”

For further information go to www.wmg2017.co.nz

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