World Masters Games 2017 supports UN sports initiative

World Masters Games 2017 is joining organisations around the world to support the second annual United Nations International Day of Sport for Development and Peace on Monday 6th April.

New Zealand is set to welcome tens of thousands of athletes from across the globe to compete in the world’s largest multi-sport event, measured in terms of participant numbers in just over two years.

World Masters Games 2017 Organising Committee Chief Executive Jennah Wootten explains “World Masters Games 2017 is proud to support the United Nations International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.

“Our aim is to support the Olympic movement and promote the ‘sport for all’ philosophy of the Olympic Charter.

“The Games offers a unique opportunity for people to play sport - socially or competitively - in a festival atmosphere. There are generally no qualification requirements other than the lower age limit set by the sport. There are no national teams or national representatives. Together athletes share a cultural and social experience while setting an example for peers and younger generations.”

“We believe the United Nations messages on this day - the power of sport to include everyone, regardless of abilities, to improve physical and mental health, to promote respect and dialogue and to advance gender equality – are truly in sync with our ethos and goals.”

World Masters Games 2017 will be the largest event to be held in New Zealand in the next decade. The Games will be held over a 10 day period from 21st to 30th April during which time 25,000 athletes will compete in 28 sports across 45 venues in Auckland, including two in the Waikato.

World Masters Games started in 1985 and 10 years later the International Masters Games Association (IMGA) was constituted to be the representative of masters sport worldwide and to promote lifelong competition, friendship and understand between mature sportspeople, regardless of age, gender, race, religion or sport status.

In 2012, the IMGA awarded the 2017 Games to Auckland, New Zealand. The 2013 World Masters Games were held in Torino, Italy and in 2021, will be hosted by Kansai, Japan.

For more information about the World Masters Games 2017 visit www.worldmastersgames2017.co.nz

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