World Masters Athletics ( WMA ) is the worldwide governing body for the sport of masters athletics – which includes track and field , cross country , and road running events – as participated by people over 35 years of age.
19-571: As the need became apparent, the organization started under the name of World Association of Veteran Athletes (WAVA), founded August 9, 1977, at the second World Association of Veteran Athletes Championships in Gothenburg , Sweden . In 2001 the name was officially changed to World Masters Athletics and its championship is now called the World Masters Athletics Championships . The organization sanctions worldwide events, provides
38-630: The 1989 Outdoor Championships dwarfed the 1,617 athletics competitors at the 1988 Olympics ; the 1993 Outdoor Championships drew over 11,000 masters athletes. Four-time Olympic Champion Al Oerter called these Championships "more like the Olympics than the Olympics". An analysis of jumping and throwing events at the Championships from 1975 to 2016 showed that, as expected, performances usually declined with age, though overall performances improved across calendar years. Official results are archived at
57-638: The AAU in the United States . In 1972, the United States Masters International Track Team (USMITT) scheduled a tour of Great Britain and then Germany. to coincide with the 1972 Olympics in Munich . Those were the first deliberately scheduled international masters competitions for Track events. The World Veteran Long Distance Championships were already in existence as the older road runner
76-549: The IAU World 100 Kilometres Challenge , with the exception of the first edition in 1998 which was held as a distinct event. In addition to world championships, regional competitions are held in several major areas around the globe. These are usually biennual competitions held in alternation with the WMA Outdoor Championships . World Masters Athletics Championships The World Masters Athletics Championships are
95-824: The York Lions Stadium and Varsity Stadium in Toronto , but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic . World Masters Athletics attempted to postpone the competition to 2021, with Tampere serving as host, but again this was cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic. The event was rescheduled to 2022 in Tampere and make-up editions being held in annual succession in 2023 (Edmonton) and 2024 (Gothenburg). Athletes participating at these Championships consistently outnumber those at Olympic track and field events, making these "the world's largest track meet". For example, The 4,951 participants at
114-469: The 1972 Olympics in Munich . Those were the first deliberately scheduled international masters competitions for Track events. The World Veteran Long Distance Championships were already in existence as the older road runner was more common at that time. At its founding, WAVA's mandate was initially to cover male athletes over the age of 40 and Female athletes over the age of 35. The younger women were invited to participate as their numbers were lower and it
133-597: The International Masters Games Association, which holds the multisport World Masters Games every four years. Each individual country governs its own affairs with an organizational governing body that is an affiliate to WMA. Several world championship events are conducted by WMA. Some competitions are held as part of larger events – for example, the World Masters Athletics 100 km Championships have been conducted as part of
152-448: The International Masters Games Association, which holds the multisport World Masters Games every four years. Each individual country governs its own affairs with an organizational governing body that is an affiliate to WMA. Several world championship events are conducted by WMA. Some competitions are held as part of larger events – for example, the World Masters Athletics 100 km Championships have been conducted as part of
171-522: The WMA site. Official results are archived at the WMA site. World Masters Athletics World Masters Athletics ( WMA ) is the worldwide governing body for the sport of masters athletics – which includes track and field , cross country , and road running events – as participated by people over 35 years of age. As the need became apparent, the organization started under the name of World Association of Veteran Athletes (WAVA), founded August 9, 1977, at
190-600: The age inspired specifications for rule modifications (a supplement to the rules of the sport by its worldwide governing body, World Athletics ). Prior to that, the sport was organized under the auspices of more localized bodies where the first official competitions were held, like the Interessen-Gemeinschaft Älterer Langstreckenläufer (IGÄL) formed in 1968 in Germany , British Veteran Athletic Club in Great Britain and
209-597: The biennial championships for masters athletics events held under the auspices of World Masters Athletics , formerly called the World Association of Veteran Athletes, for athletes 35 years of age or older. Masters athletes are divided into 5-year age groups. The outdoor championships began in Toronto , Canada on August 11, 1975 and have continued in odd numbered years. In July 2011, World Masters Athletics changed their constitution to hold Championships in even numbered years, starting in 2016. Perth , Western Australia
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#1733114711045228-655: The organization), to include road running, race walking and cross country running events (called cumulatively "non-stadia", as these do not take place in a stadium). World Masters Championships were first held outdoors in 1975, and continued biennially in odd years until 2015. They then switched to even years from 2016. The biennial World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships debuted in March 2004 in Sindelfingen , Germany , continuing in even years until 2014, then switching to odd years from 2017. The most recent outdoor world meet
247-460: The second World Association of Veteran Athletes Championships in Gothenburg , Sweden . In 2001 the name was officially changed to World Masters Athletics and its championship is now called the World Masters Athletics Championships . The organization sanctions worldwide events, provides the age inspired specifications for rule modifications (a supplement to the rules of the sport by its worldwide governing body, World Athletics ). Prior to that,
266-439: The sport was organized under the auspices of more localized bodies where the first official competitions were held, like the Interessen-Gemeinschaft Älterer Langstreckenläufer (IGÄL) formed in 1968 in Germany , British Veteran Athletic Club in Great Britain and the AAU in the United States . In 1972, the United States Masters International Track Team (USMITT) scheduled a tour of Great Britain and then Germany. to coincide with
285-718: Was in Málaga , Spain , from September 4–16, 2018 . The most recent Indoor Championships were held in Toruń , Poland , from March 24–30, 2019. The 2020 championship was scheduled to take place in Toronto , but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic . The first non-Stadia events were the World Road Running Championships in Birmingham, England in 1992 and has been held in even numbered years ever since. WMA has been working to coordinate its outdoor championship schedule with
304-495: Was in Málaga , Spain , from September 4–16, 2018 . The most recent Indoor Championships were held in Toruń , Poland , from March 24–30, 2019. The 2020 championship was scheduled to take place in Toronto , but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic . The first non-Stadia events were the World Road Running Championships in Birmingham, England in 1992 and has been held in even numbered years ever since. WMA has been working to coordinate its outdoor championship schedule with
323-519: Was more common at that time. At its founding, WAVA's mandate was initially to cover male athletes over the age of 40 and Female athletes over the age of 35. The younger women were invited to participate as their numbers were lower and it was observed younger wives might be excluded. The WMA World Outdoor Championships included the M35 division for the first time in 2005. The scope has also expanded from initially track and field competitions (called "stadia" within
342-789: Was observed younger wives might be excluded. The WMA World Outdoor Championships included the M35 division for the first time in 2005. The scope has also expanded from initially track and field competitions (called "stadia" within the organization), to include road running, race walking and cross country running events (called cumulatively "non-stadia", as these do not take place in a stadium). World Masters Championships were first held outdoors in 1975, and continued biennially in odd years until 2015. They then switched to even years from 2016. The biennial World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships debuted in March 2004 in Sindelfingen , Germany , continuing in even years until 2014, then switching to odd years from 2017. The most recent outdoor world meet
361-409: Was selected to hold the first even year meet. Later Road Racing Championships called Non-Stadia Championships were added, starting in Birmingham, England August 29–30, 1992. Indoor championships (World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships, World Masters Athletics Championships Indoor, or WMACi) started at Sindelfingen , Germany , March 10–14, 2004. The 2020 edition was scheduled to take place at
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