The biggest multi-sport event in the world was last hosted in New Zealand in Auckland from 21-30 April 2017. This huge event is held every four years and hosted around the world.  28 sports and 45 disciplines are included in the sporting programme including netball. Stay up to date regarding the next World Masters Games due to be held in Kansai, Japan - 17 days from 14 May to 30 May 2021.  Visit the official website here: www.wmg2021.jp/en

The World Masters Games are an international multi-sport athletic competition held every four years by the International Masters Games Association (IMGA) for athletes over the age of 30 and into their middle age and senior years.

The games are held in the year following the Olympics. The first World Masters Games were held in 1985 in Toronto, Canada. The latest Games (the 9th hosting) took place in Auckland, New Zealand in the year 2017.

In 2021 the Games will be held in Japan, the first hosting in Asia. This auspicious 10th hosting will be in the western part of Japan—the Kansai region.

Sporting programme

34 sports and 58 events have now been confirmed into the sporting programme.  Archery(Target Archery/Indoor Archery), Athletics(Track & Field/10 km Road Race/Half Marathon/Relay road race/Race walking), Badminton, Baseball(Baseball/Rubber Baseball), Basketball, Bowling, Canoe(Marathon/Sprint/Slalom/Polo/Dragon Boat), Cycling(Track/Road Race/Mountain Bike/BMX), Dance Sports, Football(Football/Futsal), Flying Disc, Gateball, Golf, Ground Golf,Handball, Hockey, Judo, Karate, Orienteering(Sprint/Forest), Rowing, Rugby, Sailing(Sailing/Windsurfing), Shooting(Clay/Rifle), Softball, Soft Tennis, Squash, Swimming(Pool/Diving/Water Polo/Artistic Swimming/Open Water), Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Triathlon(Triathlon/Aquathlon/Duathlon), Tug of War, Volleyball(Volleyball/Beach Volleyball), Weightlifting

 

 

Anticipated numbers in attendance:
Approximately 50,000 participants
Participants from outside Japan: 20,000
Participants from within Japan: 30,000
(For reference: approx. 30,000 participants for 2009 Sydney Games; approx. 20,000 for 2013 Torino Games; and approx. 30,000 for 2017 Auckland Games

Application period:
February 2020 – February 2021 (Proposed)

Proposed Age Categories
Women:
COMPETITIVE: 30+, 35+, 40+
MIXED: 30+, 40+
SOCIAL: 30+, 35+, 40+, 50+, 55+
SOCIAL COMPETITIVE: 30+, 35+, 40+, 50+, 55+
Men:MIXED: 30+, 40+

The age category you will compete in for Netball will be determined as at 31 December 2021. For team sports, the category you compete in is based on the age of the youngest team member.

Venue:
The Kansai region
For details regarding the sporting events and venues, please visit here.

Registrations will open in 2020. Information current at the time of print.