About

The International Masters Games Association is the representative body of sport masters worldwide. It promotes lifelong competition, friendship and understanding between mature sportspeople, regardless of age, gender, race, religion, or sport status.

What is IMGA

The International Masters Games Association (IMGA), is a non profit organisation, constituted under the laws of Switzerland founded on the 25 October 1995 in Seoul, Korea. It is the successor to the earlier IMG formed by the organisers of the first and second World Masters Games to control exclusive rights to the World Masters Games since 1985.

The members are the International Sports Federations that have their sport that represent one of the permanent sports (core sports) on the World Masters Games programme.
The International Masters Games Association is governed by the IMGA Board of Governors.

Since 1985 the IMGA together with games organizing committees have organized eight World Masters Games, two Winter World Masters Games, three European Masters Games and one Americas Masters Games.

Constitution

The International Masters Games Association has adopted its new constitution at the General Assembly held on the 26th of April 2010 in Dubai.

Download full constitution

Aims and goals

The aim is to support the Olympic movement & promote the ’sport for all’ philosophy of the Olympic Charter by:

  • Promoting and encouraging mature athletes from all over the world to practice sports regularly and to participate in Masters Games, with the awareness that competitive sport can continue throughout life and improve personal fitness level.
  • Organising international multi-sports events for mature sports men and women. These Masters Events offer physical activity while stimulating
  • Promoting friendship and understanding among mature sports people, regardless of age, gender, race, religion, or sport status.

Sports

The IMGA is an association of International Federations. These sports are also referred to as ”core-sports” and normally included in the programme of the Games.

The sports program of IMGA Masters Games shall be in accordance with the IMGA guidelines for each event.  

All sports are held subject to facilities being available.

All sports must be held in accordance with the rules and authority of the relevant international federation.

Each International federation, governing a sport being on the programme of the games, shall designate a technical delegate, who shall be responsible for the overseeing the competition within the limits, set by the Board of Governors.

The HCOC has the option of selecting additional sports to compliment the core program. Those sports should be selected on the basis of the facilities available and the strength of those sports at masters’ level in that country and internationally.

FAQ

In this section, you will find a list of frequently asked questions about International Masters Games Association and the related answers.

All Masters events under the IMGA are quadrennial international multi-sport events that embody the original ideals of the Olympic movement.
The IMGA currently organizes Summer World Masters Games, Winter World Masters Games and Regional Masters Games in Europe and the Americas.
The World Masters Games is potentially the largest participatory multisport competition in the world, bringing together up to 30,000 men and women aged 35 and above, from over 100 countries, for the simple joy of competing with their peers.

An International Board of Governors from IMGA evaluates bids for future Games, and selects the host city based on specific criteria.

Yes! The Games are open to anyone. Participants compete for themselves - there are no country delegations. Beyond the age requirement and membership in that sport's governing body, there are no competition qualification requirements. However, there will be registration requirements. The only exception to this statement may be for the International Federations who co-locate their World Championship with the World Masters Games.

Please read the sports section on <a href="http://imga.kendu.si/en/about-us#sports"> this website. </a>
Some sports have classifications for para-athletes.

Athletes compete in age brackets of five (5) to ten (10) years, depending on the sport. In teams, the competitive age category is usually based on the age of the youngest member of the team. There are also some exceptions that may apply to some sports.

All the athletes who come to these Games will reap the rewards of competing in a Masters event - the satisfaction that comes from personal striving and achievement, and taking part in an open, fair competition. The camaraderie, friendship and simple joy of physical activity are the main incentives for participation. To quote Ben Levinson, 101 years old, at the 1998 World Masters Games in Portland-Oregon, "At my age, just being anywhere is GREAT!”. He set an age group world record for putting the shot - 10.25 feet. In addition to the honor of being a World Masters Games champion, the first three place finishers in each age category will receive beautifully crafted, custom-designed gold, silver or bronze medals.

Participants pay their own travel, meals and other expenses, as well as a registration fee.

Most events will take place at attractive, high quality venues in and around the IMGA Masters Games host city. It is anticipated that major locations will include major stadiums and city sporting venues, park and recreation facilities, and local universities.

You can register, and find relevant information on accommodation and special tour packages on the official website for the event.

Governors

A Board of Governors elected by the General Assembly for a four-year period, administers the IMGA. It is compose by:

  • A President proposed by either a Member Federations (IFs) or any member of the Board of Governors and elected by the General Assembly. If the president comes from a member federation this federation must approve the appointment.
  • Members proposed by the IFs and elected by the General Assembly. Of those members at least two shall be elected from the Winter Sports Federations. Members representing expertise, knowledge, and continuity within the interest areas of IMGA.

President

Kai Holm

Honorary Vice-President

H.R.H Tunku Imran

Members

Tamas Ajan
Denis Oswald
Gian-Franco Kasper
Kate Caithness
Bob Elphinston
Phil Craven
Anders Besseberg
Don Porter
Marisol Casado
Poul-Erik Høyer
Jose Perurena
Richard L. Carrion
John D. Coates
Ary S. Graça

Administration

The daily operations are managed by the Chief Executive Officer, out of the office in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Jens V. Holm
CEO
Samantha Hayward
Director of Sport