MEDIA RELEASE Wednesday 15 October 2008 IMGA gives thumbs up to

							MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday 15 October 2008

IMGA gives thumbs up to Sydney 2009 World Masters Games
Head of international body confident harbour city is on track to stage best-
ever edition of world’s largest multi-sport event this time next year

The International Masters Games Association today gave its official stamp of
approval to the 2009 World Masters Games at the end of its Sydney visit, with the
head of the international body confident that the harbour city is on track to stage the
best-ever edition of world’s largest multi-sport event this time next year.

“Sydney has a great track record for hosting major international events, particularly
those of a sporting nature. After spending time inspecting preparations for the 2009
World Masters Games, I’m confident this sports-mad city will take the world’s largest
multi-sport event to a whole new level,” said IMGA President Kai Holm, one of five
International Olympic Committee members on the IMGA’s 12-person board.

The visit to Sydney of the IMGA Board of Governors coincides with 12 months to go
until the 2009 World Masters Games, with organisers of the event expecting 25,000
people from more than 100 countries to compete across 28 sports at upwards of 70
venues, including many Olympic sites, from 10-18 October next year.

For Margy Osmond, Chair of the Sydney 2009 World Masters Games, the IMGA’s
endorsement is recognition of the city’s hard work over the four years since it beat
bids from Copenhagen and Japan’s Shiga Prefecture to win the right to stage the
event that attracts up to three times more competitors than the Olympic Games.

“There’s no place in the world like Sydney for staging major international events. The
2009 World Masters Games are the next big event on the city’s calendar and they’ll
be every bit as successful as the 2000 Olympic Games, Rugby World Cup 2003 and
World Youth Day 2008 were in recent times,” Mrs Osmond said.

Open to sports-loving people of all abilities and most ages, the Sydney 2009 World
Masters Games are all about being fit, fun and forever young. Registrations for
competitors and volunteers are open now at www.2009worldmasters.com.

Media contact
Mark Worwood | Media Manager | Sydney 2009 World Masters Games
T +61 2 8116 2018 | M +61 408 894 935 | E mark.worwood@2009worldmasters.com

About the Sydney 2009 World Masters Games
An initiative of the New South Wales Government, Sydney will host the seventh World Masters Games
from 10-18 October 2009. Open to people of all abilities and most ages, the Games are the world’s
largest multi-sport event, attracting up to three times more competitors than the Olympic Games. To
compete at the Games people need only satisfy their sport’s minimum age criterion, which is as low as
25 for diving and swimming and does not rise above 35 for any of the 28 sports. Games organisers are
expecting 25,000 people from more than 100 countries will compete at upwards of 70 venues, including
many Olympic sites. Games organisers are also looking to recruit 6,000 volunteers to assist with the
event. Games competitor and volunteer registrations are open now at www.2009worldmasters.com.

The Sydney 2009 World Masters Games acknowledge the support of their partners and
sponsors: Australian Government | New South Wales Government | ClubsNSW | Department of
Ageing, Disability & Home Care | City of Sydney