WORLD MASTERS ATHLETICS

The History of Masters/Veteran Athletics (abbreviated) Founding fathers of the masters movement

Earliest veteran competitors were mainly roadrunners. IGAL (Interessen-Gemeinschaft Alterer Langstreckenlaufer = Partnership of Older Long Distance Runners) formed in 1968. First Marathon CHs in Holland. NZL had early runners’ movements, and the interests were imported to the USA, leading after 1965 to the formation of the USA Masters Track and Field Team (San Diego Attorney David Pain). International Veteran Track and Field meets followed.

THE WMA ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS

• To organize, regulate and administer athletics for masters (women and men of not less than thirty-five years of age).
• To sanction World Masters’ Athletic Championships and other international masters athletic competitions.
• To ratify and register world masters five-year age-group records and maintain data on other outstanding athletic performances by masters.
• To foster international friendship, understanding and co-operation through masters athletics.

DEFINITIONS

Non-Stadia: Those athletic events that are held outside of the stadium usually on road and/or cross country courses. They are usually the longer distance events.
Stadia: Those athletic events that are generally held within the Stadium usually running events on an oval track and jumping and throwing events held on various specialized fields.
Masters: Women and Men of age 35 and up.
WMA: World Masters Athletics, the World Association of Masters Athletes. The organization designated by the World Athletics (WA) to conduct the worldwide sport of Masters (Veterans) and Athletics (Track and Field).

The Logos of WMA

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