Age shall not weary us: Masters Games athletes

Sydney’s next big Games will differ from the Olympics in three major ways - there will be three times as many athletes, they will represent themselves rather than their countries and the oldest is likely to be 100.

But anyone who thinks the World Masters Games is for geriatrics is in for a shock.

The anticipated 30,000 participants at the seventh Games a year from now will include former Olympians like Michael Wenden and Lynne Bates.

Whether they compete in their former specialty of swimming, however, is up in the air.

“I have registered, but I’m keeping my options open,” said Wenden, 58, who won two gold medals at the 1968 Mexico Olympics, beating Mark Spitz in the process, as well as a career total of nine Commonwealth Games gold medals.

Bates, a leading sports administrator who won an Olympic silver medal at Mexico City, said she might have a crack at tennis.

That’s the beauty of the Masters Games.

While many once elite performers still take their sport very seriously, and maintain very high standards, others are in it just for fun and fitness.

Athletes like American Dara Torres showed at the Beijing Olympics they can still win medals in their 40s.

“The Masters is also popular with many people of little athletic talent who like to compete against themselves,” said Wenden.

“Some set their own benchmarks and say, ‘That’s the time I want to swim when I’m 100′.

“They enjoy the training as much as the competition.

“They try to maintain their standards, even as age takes its toll.

“It’s also very much about the camaraderie.”

“The Masters competitors love a good time,” said the event’s CEO Shane O’Leary.

“Sydney’s pubs, clubs and restaurants will really come alive.”

The Games have attracted $8.5 million in federal and NSW government funding, but are expected to generate a $68 million economic benefit.

Some 30,000 competitors will each pay a $220 registration fee, and book themselves into commercial accommodation, and many will holiday before and after the event.

“It will have an enormous economic impact,” said Games chair Margy Osmond.

Athletes from some 100 countries aged between 25 and 100 will compete in 28 sports, many to be held at 2000 Olympics sites.

Australia has hosted the Masters Games twice before, at Brisbane in 1994 and Melbourne in 2002 .

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