Countdown starts for World Masters Games 2017

12 August 2013

Countdown starts for World Masters Games 2017

Auckland has been handed the International Masters Games Association flag at the World Masters Games closing ceremony held today in Torino, Italy – starting the countdown to the 9th games being hosted by Auckland in 2017.

Around 19,000 competitors and supporters packed the games village in Valentino Park to watch World Masters Games 2017 Chairman, Sir John Wells accept the flag from the President of the International Masters Games Association (IMGA), Kai Holm.

The flag will return to Auckland later this month and take pride of place at the World Masters Games 2017 offices.

Sir John Wells spoke at the ceremony this morning (New Zealand time) and said afterwards it was a momentous occasion.

“It brought home the tremendous responsibility bestowed on Auckland as the next games host, and marked an important milestone for what is going to be a significant event for Auckland and New Zealand.

“The Torino games were a great event and showed the level of global engagement and interest there is in master’s sport. I’m confident the 2017 games will be a great success, and we are already putting plans and structures in place to ensure that is the case,” said Sir John.

Sir John Wells and World Masters Games 2017 Chief Executive Jennah Wootten are in Torino participating in an official observer programme designed to transfer knowledge between host cities.

At the closing ceremony Kai Holm congratulated Auckland on reaching this key milestone, and said he was looking forward to seeing all athletes travel to Auckland for the 2017 World Masters Games.

A New Zealand contingent of about 150 athletes competed in 18 sports at the Torino games.

In March 2012 Auckland was awarded the rights to host the World Masters Games in 2017. It is the world’s largest multi sporting event and is expected to attract more than 25,000 competitors to the city.

The event is expected to deliver a GDP impact for Auckland of about $36 million. A significant contributor to this will be the approximate 25,000 competitors spending more than 250,000 total visitor nights in Auckland.

ENDS

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