World Winter Masters Games are coming to Innsbruck-Tyrol in 2020

Innsbruck has been awarded the World Winter Masters Games in Lausanne. Therewith, the still missing Olympic winter sport chapter, namely the Masters Games, are being added to the major sport event history of Innsbruck-Tyrol.

The comprehensive winter sport competence of the region, the experience with Olympic multi sport events and the good preparatory talks with the International Masters Games Association (IMGA) were decisive for the award.

‘We are extremely happy to have been awarded the games! The World Winter Masters Games are the largest multi sport event worldwide when measured by the number of athletes. The on-going close collaboration with regional partners and the participation of many thousands of athletes in their ‘best’ years will have a positive effect on the regional added value and the Olympic competence for the whole region will once again be underlined,’ Georg Spazier, CEO of innsbruck-tirol sports GmbH (ITS) and head of the organising committee explains.

Sport for all masters over 35

Around 3,000 athletes from different countries around the world will travel to the Tyrol in January 2020 to participate in competitions in up to 12 sport disciplines. The journey and accommodation is organised and paid by the athletes themselves.

In accordance with the philosophy ‘sport for life’ or ‘sport for all’, the World Masters Games call for sport and movement in all phases of life. The only participation condition is thus the age, whereas there is no maximum age limit. Whoever – depending on the sport discipline – is at least 35 years old, can participate in the World Masters Games.

The focus is on friendship and understanding between the athletes – regardless of age, gender, race, religion and sport status – as well as on striving for personal best and gaining cultural and social experiences.

IMGA as part of the Olympic Agenda 2020

In accordance with the IOC Agenda 2020, the WMG will automatically be held one year after the Olympic games in the respective Olympic city. The Games in 2020 are therefore the last games awarded freely.

‘It was a very clear decision of our board and we are pleased to award the next winter master games to the Olympic City of Innsbruck - Tyrol. The host region with its impressive Olympic background and the great experience in major winter sport events will be sure to stage a great event and move the Winter Masters Movement to the next level. We look forward to a close collaboration and would like to thank both the city and region for their great support,’ Kai Holm, IMGA President explained in the course of the awarding process.

The company innsbruck-tirol sports GmbH (ITS) has been entrusted with the organisation and staging of the World Winter Masters Games. ITS is the successor company of the Innsbruck-Tirol Olympische Jugendspiele 2012 GmbH (Youth Olympic Winter Games 2012), staged the International Children’s Games (ICG) in January 2016 and looks forward to organising a further multi sport event under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee.

Due to the foundation of the first volunteer platform in Austria during the planning of the ICG, the innsbruck-tirol sports GmbH plays a leading role. The volunteer team tirol, which was created in the course of this platform, will also contribute to the successful staging of the World Masters Games.

Together with tourism partners and in accordance with other events, the time period for the event has been set for January 2020.

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