NZ and World Masters Games Relationship Strengthened

NZ and World Masters Games Relationship Strengthened

Jennah Wooten, the Chief Executive of the World Masters Games, Auckland 2017, was in Dunedin this week to strengthen ties with the New Zealand Masters Games Executive Committee and to experience how Dunedin runs its biennial event.

Chairman of the NZMG Committee, Cr John Bezett says, “We have been delighted to see Jennah Wooten here. She is doing a great job setting up the 2017 World Masters Games in Auckland. Dunedin had tried in the past to interest the World Masters body to stage them in NZ and we were delighted that the Auckland bid was successful. For us, we want to know how this will impact on our Games.

“The New Zealand Masters Games is the grass roots of the movement in this country and because of the work that the New Zealand Masters Games Company has done, they have put NZ on the map in World Masters Games terms. We feel we are deserving of some recognition. I’m happy to say that this is happening. I would like to think that the legacy of the 2017 World Masters Games will be a boost in recognition in part from central government funding. We want to be able to build on the momentum that the World Masters will generate.”

Jennah Wooten says, “We have an important relationship with the NZMG team and we only want to strengthen that. It’s been a fantastic couple of days, being here. I saw the Football final at the Forsyth Barr Stadium, an amazing venue and it has been fantastic to see the social component come to light both at the Netball and at the Games Village. The ability sport has to bring people together is wonderful.”

The 2017 World Masters Games in Auckland is expected to attract 25,000 competitors with 50% being internationals, plus 10,000 supporters. It will require 5,000 volunteers and 45 different venues.

Jennah says, “We are gearing up for an education and promotion phase as we want to make sure that New Zealanders are aware that one of the biggest world sporting events, which is aligned with the IOC, is going to happen in their own backyard, and that age is the only limit on participation.

“Competitors will be as diverse as former Olympians and world champions to weekend warriors and people of average ability in their own country.”

As the World Masters is aligned with the IOC there are 16 mandatory sports that must be included at the Games and then the host country has the discretion to select 14 optional sports that are more in line with their country’s sporting culture and what they excel at as a nation. The 30 sports to be offered at the Games will be announced in July this year.

ENDS

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