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{{Short description|Governing body for participants over 35 years old}}{{More citations needed|date=March 2020}}
{{Cleanup bare URLs|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox organization
{{More citations needed|date=March 2020}}
|logo=Logo_for_World_Masters_Athletics.png

|logo_caption=WMA logo
|type=[[Masters athletics]]
|name=World Masters Athletics
|area_served=Worldwide
|founded_date=1977
|predecessor=World Association of Veteran Athletes
|image=Logo for WAVA.png
|caption=WAVA logo
|focus=athletic competition, senior sports
|website={{URL|https://world-masters-athletics.com/}}
}}
'''World Masters Athletics''' ('''WMA''') is the worldwide governing body for the sport of [[masters athletics]] – which includes [[track and field]], [[cross country running|cross country]], and [[road running]] events – as participated by people over 35 years of age.
'''World Masters Athletics''' ('''WMA''') is the worldwide governing body for the sport of [[masters athletics]] – which includes [[track and field]], [[cross country running|cross country]], and [[road running]] events – as participated by people over 35 years of age.


As the need became apparent, the organization started under the name of World Association of Veteran Athletes, founded August 9, 1977, at the second [[World Masters Athletics Championships|World Association of Veteran Athletes Championships]] in [[Gothenburg]], [[Sweden]]. In 2001 the name was officially changed to World Masters Athletics and its championship is now called the [[World Masters Athletics Championships]] . The organization sanctions worldwide events, provides the age inspired specifications for rule modifications (a supplement to the rules of the sport by its worldwide governing body, the International Amateur Athletics Federation ([[IAAF]]).
As the need became apparent, the organization started under the name of World Association of Veteran Athletes (WAVA),
<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/wmcm.htm
|title=WORLD MASTERS (VETERANS) CHAMPIONSHIPS (MEN)
|publisher=Athletics Weekly
|website=gbrathletics.com
}}</ref>
founded August 9, 1977, at the second [[World Masters Athletics Championships|World Association of Veteran Athletes Championships]] in [[Gothenburg]], [[Sweden]]. In 2001 the name was officially changed to World Masters Athletics and its championship is now called the [[World Masters Athletics Championships]] . The organization sanctions worldwide events, provides the age inspired specifications for rule modifications (a supplement to the rules of the sport by its worldwide governing body, [[World Athletics]]).


Prior to that, the sport was organized under the auspices of more localized bodies where the first official competitions were held, like the Interessen-Gemeinschaft Älterer Langstreckenläufer (IGÄL) formed in 1968 in [[Germany]], British Veteran Athletic Club in [[Great Britain]] and the [[Amateur Athletic Union|AAU]] in the [[United States]]. In 1972, the United States Masters International Track Team (USMITT) scheduled a tour of Great Britain and then Germany.<ref name="mastershistory">http://www.mastershistory.org/USMITT/1970-09-Vol1-No1-USMITT.pdf</ref> to coincide with the 1972 [[Olympics]] in [[Munich]]. Those were the first deliberately scheduled international masters competitions for Track events. The World Veteran Long Distance Championships were already in existence as the older road runner was more common at that time.
Prior to that, the sport was organized under the auspices of more localized bodies where the first official competitions were held, like the Interessen-Gemeinschaft Älterer Langstreckenläufer (IGÄL) formed in 1968 in [[Germany]], British Veteran Athletic Club in [[Great Britain]] and the [[Amateur Athletic Union|AAU]] in the [[United States]]. In 1972, the United States Masters International Track Team (USMITT) scheduled a tour of Great Britain and then Germany.<ref name="mastershistory">{{cite web|url=http://www.mastershistory.org/USMITT/1970-09-Vol1-No1-USMITT.pdf |title=Newsletter |publisher=www.mastershistory.org |date=1970 |access-date=2020-03-04}}</ref> to coincide with the 1972 [[Olympics]] in [[Munich]]. Those were the first deliberately scheduled international masters competitions for Track events. The World Veteran Long Distance Championships were already in existence as the older road runner was more common at that time.


At its founding, WAVA's mandate was initially to cover Male athletes over the age of 40 and Female athletes over the age of 35. The younger women were invited to participate as their numbers were lower and it was observed younger wives might be excluded. The M35 (Men's 35 year old) age division was later added to the Men's division for equality in 1995.<ref>http://www.bvaf.org.uk/oldnews.htm</ref> The scope has also expanded from initially track and field competitions (called "stadia" within the organization), to include road running, [[race walking]] and [[cross country running]] events (called cumulatively "non-stadia", as these do not take place in a stadium).
At its founding, WAVA's mandate was initially to cover male athletes over the age of 40 and Female athletes over the age of 35. The younger women were invited to participate as their numbers were lower and it was observed younger wives might be excluded. The WMA World Outdoor Championships included the M35 division for the first time in 2005.<ref>National Masters News, Oct 2005, Page 17. [http://www.mastershistory.org/NMN/10_2005.pdf] Retrieved Feb 7, 2021</ref><ref>2003 Meet Results, M40 plus, Masters History. [http://www.mastershistory.org/International-Results/puertorico2003format.html//] Retrieved Feb 7, 2021</ref> The scope has also expanded from initially track and field competitions (called "stadia" within the organization), to include road running, [[race walking]] and [[cross country running]] events (called cumulatively "non-stadia", as these do not take place in a stadium).


World masters championships have been held outdoors every two years since 1975,<ref name="WMA history">{{Cite web|url=https://world-masters-athletics.com/|title=HOME|website=World Masters Athletics}}</ref> and a biennial World Masters Indoor Championships debuted in March 2004 in [[Sindelfingen]], [[Germany]]. The most recent outdoor world meet was in [[Porto Alegre, Brazil]], October 15–27, 2013. The next outdoor meet is scheduled for [[Lyon, France]] August 4–16, 2015.<ref>https://www.lyon2015.com/en</ref> The most recent Indoor Championships were held in [[Budapest]], [[Hungary]], March 25–30, 2014. The next indoor championships, skipping a year to be in odd number years, will be in [[Daegu]], [[South Korea]], March 19–25, 2017.
World Masters Championships were first held outdoors in 1975, and continued [[wiktionary:biennial|biennially]] in odd years until 2015. They then switched to even years from 2016.<ref name="WMA history">{{cite web|url=https://world-masters-athletics.com/|title=HOME|website=World Masters Athletics}}</ref> The biennial [[World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships]] debuted in March 2004 in [[Sindelfingen]], [[Germany]], continuing in even years until 2014, then switching to odd years from 2017. The most recent outdoor world meet was in [[Málaga]], [[Spain]], from [[2018 World Masters Athletics Championships|September 4–16, 2018]]. The most recent Indoor Championships were held in [[Toruń]], [[Poland]], from March 24–30, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wmaci2019.com/|title=WMACI Toruń, Poland|date=2019-04-23|website=World Masters Athletics Championships Indoor 2019|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-23}}</ref> The 2020 championship was scheduled to take place in [[Toronto]], but was cancelled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web |title=World Masters Athletics Championships 2020 Cancelled |url=https://master-athlete.com/news/world-masters-athletics-championships-2020-cancelled/ |website=Master Athlete |access-date=10 October 2020}}</ref>

Results of the Stadia Championships are archived at Mastershistory.org.


The first non-Stadia events were the World Road Running Championships in [[Birmingham, England]] in 1992 and has been held in even numbered years ever since.
The first non-Stadia events were the World Road Running Championships in [[Birmingham, England]] in 1992 and has been held in even numbered years ever since.
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Each individual country governs its own affairs with an organizational governing body that is an affiliate to WMA.
Each individual country governs its own affairs with an organizational governing body that is an affiliate to WMA.

==World championships==
Several world championship events are conducted by WMA.<ref>{{cite web |title=WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS |url=https://world-masters-athletics.org/events/categories/worlds/ |website=world-masters-athletics.org |access-date=1 October 2024}}</ref> Some competitions are held as part of larger events{{snd}}for example, the World Masters Athletics 100 km Championships have been conducted as part of the [[IAU World 100 Kilometres Challenge]], with the exception of the first edition in 1998 which was held as a distinct event.<ref>{{cite web |title=WMA WORLD MASTERS (VETERANS) 100 KILOMETRES CHAMPIONSHIPS |url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/ultra.htm |website=GBR Athletics |access-date=1 October 2024}}</ref>

* [[World Masters Athletics Stadia Championships]]
* [[World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships]]
* [[World Masters Athletics Marathon Championship]]
* [[World Masters Athletics 100 km Championships]]
* [[World Masters Mountain Running Championships]]

==Regional championships==
In addition to world championships, regional competitions are held in several major areas around the globe. These are usually biennual competitions held in alternation with the [[World Masters Athletics Championships#Outdoor Championships|WMA Outdoor Championships]].<ref name='Regions'>{{cite web |title=Regions |url=https://world-masters-athletics.com/category/regions/ |publisher=WMA}}</ref>

* [[African Masters Athletics|Africa]]
* [[Asia Masters Athletics|Asia]]
* [[European Masters Athletics Championships|Europe]]
* [[North, Central American and Caribbean Masters Athletics|North, Central American and Caribbean]]
* [[Oceania Masters Athletics|Oceania]]
* [[South American Association of Master Athletes|South America]]


==See also==
==See also==
*[[World Masters Athletics Championships]]
*[[World Masters Athletics Championships]]
*[[Masters shot put]]
*[[Masters shot put]]

==External links==
* [https://world-masters-athletics.com/records Current Masters World Records]
* [https://www.mastershistory.org/NMN/NMN-1979s-december.pdf In the 1970s World Records started being kept, with Peter Mundle acting as Chair]


==References==
==References==
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* [http://www.world-masters-athletics.org World Masters Athletics Official Website]
* [http://www.world-masters-athletics.org World Masters Athletics Official Website]
* [http://www.masterstrack.com Masterstrack blog]
* [http://www.masterstrack.com Masterstrack blog]
* [http://www.mastershistory.org Masters History]
* [http://www.mastershistory.org Masters History]
* [http://www.masterevents.com Masters Events website]
* [http://www.masterevents.com Masters Events website]

==Additional reading==
* [https://mastershistory.org/archives/wava-newsletters-1-7 WAVA Newsletters (1980 to 1982)]
* [https://mastershistory.org/archives/veteris-magazine-covering-world-masters-track Veteris Magazine (1973 to 1979)]
* [https://nzmastersathletics.org.nz/vetline New Zealand Vetline Magazine]


{{Masters athletics}}
{{Masters athletics}}
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[[Category:Masters athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Masters athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Sports organizations established in 1977]]
[[Category:Sports organizations established in 1977]]
[[Category:1977 establishments in Europe]]

Latest revision as of 13:42, 1 October 2024

World Masters Athletics
PredecessorWorld Association of Veteran Athletes
Founded1977
TypeMasters athletics
Focusathletic competition, senior sports
Area served
Worldwide
Websiteworld-masters-athletics.com

World Masters Athletics (WMA) is the worldwide governing body for the sport of masters athletics – which includes track and field, cross country, and road running events – as participated by people over 35 years of age.

As the need became apparent, the organization started under the name of World Association of Veteran Athletes (WAVA), [1] founded August 9, 1977, at the second World Association of Veteran Athletes Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden. In 2001 the name was officially changed to World Masters Athletics and its championship is now called the World Masters Athletics Championships . The organization sanctions worldwide events, provides the age inspired specifications for rule modifications (a supplement to the rules of the sport by its worldwide governing body, World Athletics).

Prior to that, the sport was organized under the auspices of more localized bodies where the first official competitions were held, like the Interessen-Gemeinschaft Älterer Langstreckenläufer (IGÄL) formed in 1968 in Germany, British Veteran Athletic Club in Great Britain and the AAU in the United States. In 1972, the United States Masters International Track Team (USMITT) scheduled a tour of Great Britain and then Germany.[2] to coincide with the 1972 Olympics in Munich. Those were the first deliberately scheduled international masters competitions for Track events. The World Veteran Long Distance Championships were already in existence as the older road runner was more common at that time.

At its founding, WAVA's mandate was initially to cover male athletes over the age of 40 and Female athletes over the age of 35. The younger women were invited to participate as their numbers were lower and it was observed younger wives might be excluded. The WMA World Outdoor Championships included the M35 division for the first time in 2005.[3][4] The scope has also expanded from initially track and field competitions (called "stadia" within the organization), to include road running, race walking and cross country running events (called cumulatively "non-stadia", as these do not take place in a stadium).

World Masters Championships were first held outdoors in 1975, and continued biennially in odd years until 2015. They then switched to even years from 2016.[5] The biennial World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships debuted in March 2004 in Sindelfingen, Germany, continuing in even years until 2014, then switching to odd years from 2017. The most recent outdoor world meet was in Málaga, Spain, from September 4–16, 2018. The most recent Indoor Championships were held in Toruń, Poland, from March 24–30, 2019.[6] The 2020 championship was scheduled to take place in Toronto, but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7]

The first non-Stadia events were the World Road Running Championships in Birmingham, England in 1992 and has been held in even numbered years ever since.

WMA has been working to coordinate its outdoor championship schedule with the International Masters Games Association, which holds the multisport World Masters Games every four years.

Each individual country governs its own affairs with an organizational governing body that is an affiliate to WMA.

World championships

[edit]

Several world championship events are conducted by WMA.[8] Some competitions are held as part of larger events – for example, the World Masters Athletics 100 km Championships have been conducted as part of the IAU World 100 Kilometres Challenge, with the exception of the first edition in 1998 which was held as a distinct event.[9]

Regional championships

[edit]

In addition to world championships, regional competitions are held in several major areas around the globe. These are usually biennual competitions held in alternation with the WMA Outdoor Championships.[10]

See also

[edit]
[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "WORLD MASTERS (VETERANS) CHAMPIONSHIPS (MEN)". gbrathletics.com. Athletics Weekly.
  2. ^ "Newsletter" (PDF). www.mastershistory.org. 1970. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
  3. ^ National Masters News, Oct 2005, Page 17. [1] Retrieved Feb 7, 2021
  4. ^ 2003 Meet Results, M40 plus, Masters History. [2] Retrieved Feb 7, 2021
  5. ^ "HOME". World Masters Athletics.
  6. ^ "WMACI Toruń, Poland". World Masters Athletics Championships Indoor 2019. 2019-04-23. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  7. ^ "World Masters Athletics Championships 2020 Cancelled". Master Athlete. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  8. ^ "WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS". world-masters-athletics.org. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  9. ^ "WMA WORLD MASTERS (VETERANS) 100 KILOMETRES CHAMPIONSHIPS". GBR Athletics. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Regions". WMA.
[edit]

Additional reading

[edit]
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