April 14, 2009 (Sydney, Australia) – Sydney will host the seventh World Masters Games from 10-18 October 2009. The Games are Sydney’s largest major international event on the 2009 calendar, with 25,000 people from more than 100 countries expected to compete.

Canada is traditionally a strong supporter of Masters Games around the world and currently has the highest number of registered competitors (other than Australia) for this year’s Games.

The World Masters Games have been held every four years since they began in Toronto, Canada in 1985. Australians have a strong Masters sport presence and the 2009 event will be the third time that the World Masters Games have been staged in Australia after Brisbane (1994) and Melbourne (2002).

Open to people of all abilities and most ages, the World Masters Games are the world’s largest multi-sport event, attracting up to three times more competitors than the Olympic Games. To compete at the Sydney 2009 World Masters Games people need only satisfy their sport’s minimum age criterion, which is as low as 25 for diving and swimming and is not above 35 for any of the 28 sports.

There will be several cycling events and disciplines included. Below is a schedule of events for cycling:

– Track: 10-13 October
– Criterium: 14 October, 18 October
– Individual time trial: 15 October
– Road race: 16-17 October

The Games will showcase Sydney Olympic Park, which will be the home of the Games, and well known Olympic sites in Bankstown, Blacktown, Liverpool and Penrith. A volunteer workforce of approximately 6,000 people will assist the Organising Committee in delivering of the Sydney 2009 World Masters Games, the next big event on the city’s calendar and whose motto is fit, fun and forever young.

Previous World Masters Games
2005 Edmonton, Canada
2002 Melbourne, Australia
1998 Portland, United States of America
1994 Brisbane, Australia
1989 Aalborg, Aarhus and Herning, Denmark
1985 Toronto, Canada

For more information, visit www.2009worldmasters.com