February 16th, 2016

Register now for the World Masters Games! www.worldmastersgames2017.co.nz

For more information and NOR visit http://www.worldmastersgames2017.co.nz/the-sports/find-your-sport/sailing/

The World Masters Games is the world’s largest multi-sport event. Held every four years, it is the pinnacle sporting event for masters competitors worldwide. In supporting the Olympic Games ethos of ‘sport for all’,  the goal of the World Masters Games is to encourage participation in sport throughout life. Competition and camaraderie are equally celebrated.

Every four years, the International Masters Games Association, the representative body of masters sport worldwide, grants to one special city the rights to host the next Games. The first ever Games were held in Toronto, Canada in 1985. Since then seven other cities have embraced the global event including Sydney in 2009 and Torino in 2013.

Two of the philosophies of the Masters Games are to promote friendship and understanding, along with competition, between mature sports people regardless of age, gender, race, religion, or sport status. This unique spirit will be very much alive in 2017 when Auckland, New Zealand becomes the latest home to this hugely exciting global sporting event.

So how do you or your team take part? For most sports there are no qualification criteria other than age.That means anyone can compete – either to win or simply have fun. Some sports in the World Masters Games coincide with a World Championships which come with more detailed entry requirements. In 2017 these sports are orienteering and weightlifting. Unlike an Olympics, all athletes represent themselves not their country, so there is no process of being selected.