World Masters Games The Fever Pitch of the 2017 Games, and Four Years Later to Kansai

 

The World Masters Games (WMG), held every four years as a "festival of lifelong sports," saw its 9th edition take place in Auckland, New Zealand, from April 21st to 30th. This major event, gathering sports enthusiasts from around the world, will actually be held in Japan's Kansai region in four years. We highlight the ten days of excitement, the achievements of Japanese participants, and the momentum building towards the next edition.

The 2017 WMG kicked off on April 21. A large crowd gathered at Eden Park for the opening ceremony. New Zealand's Monica Mercury, competing in basketball, delivered a speech. Wearing traditional attire, she fulfilled her important role as a descendant of the country's indigenous Maori people.

The opening ceremony, with its dazzling lights and production, brought the crowd to a fever pitch. This marked the start of the festival of lifelong sports. The WMG is open to anyone aged 30 or older in principle. People of all ages, including seniors, enjoyed sports. In athletics, 101-year-old Indian woman Man Kaur won four gold medals. There were also scenes where former Olympic champions competed against regular sports enthusiasts. The appeal of this event lies not only in its specialists but also in its ability to energize beginners.

Major sports, including New Zealand's national sport, rugby, generated huge excitement. But the event's diversity was also a hallmark, featuring a wide array of disciplines. Events unique to this lifesaving-focused nation included "Beach Flags," where participants dash to capture flags planted on the sand at the start. A costume party for athletes was also held during the games, attracting many visitors enjoying the tourism.

On April 30th, the Games concluded with the closing ceremony. This festival, which saw approximately 28,000 participants from over 100 countries, passed the baton to the Kansai Games four years hence. During the closing ceremony, Shosuke Mori, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, received the Games flag and addressed the crowd: "Now, mark the dates for the Kansai Games on your calendars. And start training for 2021!" His call was met with thunderous cheers from the venue. The excitement in Auckland will carry directly into Kansai four years from now.

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A festival of sports enjoyed once every four years

The PR for Kansai and the achievements of Japanese athletes seen at the Auckland Games. We look back at the various scenes of "Japan" that colored the event. Kansai PR Booth Appears for Four Years Later Ahead of the 2021 event, the "Kansai PR Booth" was set up in the Queens Wharf area, the athlete registration venue, from April 16th to 30th. It promoted the next Games and highlights of the Kansai region. Alongside information about the host Kansai region's 2 prefectures, 6 prefectures, and 4 government-designated cities, it introduced Japanese culture through experiences like folding origami cranes and photo opportunities with cherry blossom panels.

On April 22, a PR event for the Kansai Games was held. Daichi Suzuki, Commissioner of the Japan Sports Agency, and Toshizo Ido, Governor of Hyogo Prefecture and Chairman of the Kansai Wide-Area Union and the Organizing Committee, performed a ceremonial sake barrel opening. Visitors were also treated to sake, further promoting Japanese culture. From the stage in Auckland, "Kansai" made an impression on people worldwide. Chairman Mori gave a speech at the event, expressing his enthusiasm for the games four years later. Large panels displayed the Kansai Games venues. Staff introduced the appeal of the Kansai area to visitors using videos and pamphlets.

Japanese participants enjoyed the event in various ways

Approximately 380 Japanese participated in the Auckland Games. In the 10km marathon, Daichi Suzuki, Commissioner of the Japan Sports Agency, entered. After finishing, he commented, "The fun and appeal of Masters sports lies in the fact that I, originally a swimmer, challenged myself in track and field."

Japanese medalists followed one after another. The first gold medalist was Masao Sono (63), who won the 10km marathon in the 60-65 age group. Furthermore, in the men's 50-54 age group, 69kg class of weightlifting, Sumio Takei (55) took the gold. It was a major upset victory, defeating a Moscow Olympics gold medalist. Meanwhile, many beginners also participated from Japan. In Auckland, one could see them purely enjoying the sport.

 

At the closing ceremony, John Wells, Chairman of the Games, handed the Games flag to Shosuke Mori, Chairman of the Organizing Committee. Furthermore, a wooden paddle, a traditional New Zealand craft, was presented to Chairman Mori. Secretary General Suzuki stated, looking ahead to the next Games in four years, "I want people to feel that even if they aren't good at it, 'it's okay to participate in a sport they like.'"

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Now! The next Games in 2021 will be in Kansai!

 

The World Masters Games 2021 Kansai, Asia's first edition, will be held over 16 days from May 15 to 30, 2021. Participation is expected to reach 50,000 people, with approximately 30,000 from within Japan and 20,000 from overseas. Its defining feature is that anyone can enter. By raising awareness of participation in the Games, it is also expected to contribute to improving the lifestyle and health promotion of the public.

A total of 32 sports and 55 events are scheduled. Alongside major international sports like track and field, swimming, soccer, and baseball, events like tug-of-war will also be featured. The range of sports is exceptionally broad, including judo, karate, orienteering, and dance sports.

These diverse events will be held across facilities throughout the entire Kansai region. While the opening ceremony will be in Kyoto Prefecture and the closing ceremony in Osaka Prefecture, competitions are also planned in Tottori and Tokushima Prefectures. This promises to be a widely coordinated event.

Given the vast geographical scope, numerous initiatives are planned during the event period, not only for competition participation but also for tourism and sports tourism. Following the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, this will be held as a "festival of sports." It will serve as a major catalyst for the development of "Do Sports," encouraging nationwide and regional "total participation." The largest ever! 50,000 sports enthusiasts gather from over 100 countries!

〈 Photo: James Yang 〉

Organized by the International Masters Games Association (IMGA), this is the world's premier international competition in lifelong sports. Held every four years like the Olympics and Paralympics, it is open to any sports enthusiast aged 30 or older. Participants are divided into classes by age and, for some sports, by skill level, offering everyone a chance to win in their respective categories. The inaugural Games were held in Toronto, Canada, in 1985, the year after the Los Angeles Olympics. The 9th Games in Auckland featured 45 events across 28 sports at 48 venues. Among the approximately 28,000 participants, around 380 were Japanese. The upcoming 10th Games will be held in the Kansai region of Japan, marking the first time the event comes to Asia.