Regional Masters Games Heads to Rio

(ATR) Rio will host its first multi-sport event after the Olympic Games in three years.

The Pan-American Masters Games will bring around 20-30,000 athletes to the marvelous city in the September 2020, according to a release.

Rio announced its bid for the Masters Games last month as it began to grapple with the complication of its 2016 Olympic legacy. Organizers for the Masters Games say the legacy of Rio 2016 contributed heavily to the bid and decision.

"The Rio 2016 venues…will be ideal venues for the Masters Athletes, who will also be able to take advantage of the new hotels and tourism infrastructure that was developed ahead of Rio 2016," the IOC said in a statement about the decision.

The bid for the Games expects to use as many Olympic venues in Barra da Tijuca, Copacabana, Deodoro, and the Maracana areas as possible. A total of 20 sports will be contested by the best masters athletes from the Americas region.

Test events for the event will be announced by the Brazilian Masters Association when scheduled.

Rio mayor Marcelo Crivella helped kick off the bid for the Masters Games. Crivella’s administration has done a political u-turn from that of Eduardo Paes, who was instrumental is stabilizing 2016 Olympic preparations. Crivella campaigned heavily against Paes’ plans for Olympic legacy during his mayoral bid and preached austerity after immediately taking office.

"The 2020 Pan-American Masters Games in Rio represent a fantastic opportunity to utilise both the physical infrastructure and social legacy of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games," Jens Holm, International Masters Games Association chief executive, said in a statement. "As an organisation, the IMGA is thrilled to facilitate a new major sporting event in Rio, and we are certain that our Masters athletes are going to enjoy travelling and competing in this vibrant and fun city."

Written by Aaron Bauer

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