World Masters Athletics
Encyclopedia
World Masters Athletics 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, 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 the age inspired specifications for rule modifications (a supplement to the rules of the sport by its worldwide governing body, the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF).
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 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 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 M35 (Men's 35 year old) age division was later added to the Men's division for equality in 1995. The scope has also expanded from initially Track and Field competitions (called Stadia within the organization), to include Road Racing
, Race Walking
and Cross Country
events (called cumulatively Non-Stadia as these did not take place in a stadium).
World masters championships have been held outdoors every two years since 1975 , and a biennial World Masters Indoor Championships debuted in March 2004 in Sindelfingen
, Germany
. The most recent outdoor world meet was in Sacramento
, California
in 2011. The next outdoor wold meet is scheduled for Porto Alegre, Brazil, July 24 to August 2, 2013. The most recent Indoor Championships were held in Kamloops, BC
Canada
in March 2010. The next indoor championships will be in Jyväskylä
, Finland
, April 3-8, 2012.
Results of the Stadia Championships are archived at Mastershistory.org.
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 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.
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
, and road running
Road running
Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road . These events would be classified as long distance according to athletics terminology, with distances typically ranging from 5 kilometers to 42.2 kilometers in the marathon. They may involve large numbers of runners...
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, founded August 9, 1977, at the second World Association of Veteran Athletes Championships
World Masters Athletics Championships
The World Masters Athletics Championships are the biannual championships for athletics events held under the auspices of World Masters Athletics, formerly called the World Association of Veteran Athletes, for athletes over the age of 35 years old....
in Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. In 2001 the name was officially changed to World Masters Athletics and its championship is now called the World Masters Athletics Championships
World Masters Athletics Championships
The World Masters Athletics Championships are the biannual championships for athletics events held under the auspices of World Masters Athletics, formerly called the World Association of Veteran Athletes, for athletes over the age of 35 years old....
. 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, the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF).
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
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, British Veteran Athletic Club in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and the AAU
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. 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
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. 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 was observed younger wives might be excluded. The M35 (Men's 35 year old) age division was later added to the Men's division for equality in 1995. The scope has also expanded from initially Track and Field competitions (called Stadia within the organization), to include Road Racing
Road racing
Road racing is a general term for most forms of motor racing held on paved, purpose-built race tracks , as opposed to oval tracks and off-road racing...
, Race Walking
Race walking
Racewalking, or race walking, is a long-distance athletic event. Although it is a foot race, it is different from running in that one foot must appear to be in contact with the ground at all times...
and Cross Country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
events (called cumulatively Non-Stadia as these did not take place in a stadium).
World masters championships have been held outdoors every two years since 1975 , and a biennial World Masters Indoor Championships debuted in March 2004 in Sindelfingen
Sindelfingen
Sindelfingen is a German town near Stuttgart at the headwaters of the Schwippe that is the site of a Mercedes-Benz assembly plant.-History:* 1155 First documented mention of Sindelfingen...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The most recent outdoor world meet was in Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 2011. The next outdoor wold meet is scheduled for Porto Alegre, Brazil, July 24 to August 2, 2013. The most recent Indoor Championships were held in Kamloops, BC
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in March 2010. The next indoor championships will be in Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä is the capital of Central Finland and the largest city on the Finnish Lakeland, north-east of Tampere and north of Helsinki, on northern coast of lake Päijänne. The city has been continuously one of the most rapidly growing cities in Finland since World War II. The city is surrounded...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, April 3-8, 2012.
Results of the Stadia Championships are archived at Mastershistory.org.
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 the International Masters Games Association, which holds the multisport World Masters Games
World Masters Games
The World Masters Games is an international multi-sport event held every four years which, in terms of competitor numbers, has developed into the largest of its kind....
every four years.
Each individual country governs its own affairs with an organizational governing body that is an affiliate to WMA.