More than 9300 people are involved in the Masters Games 2025. Photo: Masters Games.
It’s hard to tell whether the Australian Masters Games, which commence this Saturday (18 October), is a festival of sport or a festival for local businesses, such is the size of the event.
The numbers are impressive.
Eight thousand four hundred competitors, including 150 overseas athletes, are taking part in 44 different sports utilising 49 venues across the city, assisted by 900 volunteers over the week.
“We’re expecting an impact of $10 million to $15 million on the local economy. With 6500 interstate visitors, that’s a lot of bed nights; it’s a great boost,” said Australian Masters Games General Manager, Adam Drinkwell.
And with a strong social aspect to the event, expect bars and restaurants to be busy as well.
Playing fields across Canberra will be bustling with activity during the Australian Masters Games. Photo: Capital Football.
Given the minimum age for players competing in, for example, walking football, is 45 years for men and 40 years for women, you would expect expenditure to be high.
Mind you, the minimum age for gymnastics is 20 years.
For many, though, despite their age, the competitive drive remains.
Walking football will be one of the sports taking place in Canberra for the Australian Masters Games. Photo: File.
“People compete in the Masters Games for a variety of reasons. For many, it’s the social side, but for others with medals up for grabs, it can be more competitive,” said Mr Drinkwell.
He concedes it has been a challenge to secure 49 sporting facilities for 44 sports, but this was achieved with the crucial support of the ACT Government, which was essential to getting the event off the ground.
It is the biggest test of Canberra’s sports facilities since the 2003 Masters Games. Before that, the 1997 Games attracted 10,000 competitors.
This will be the 20th Masters Games, which is staged every two years.
Adam Drinkwell says, “We’re really excited to be back in Canberra for the first time in over 20 years.”
Canberra, it would seem, is a natural fit for the Masters Games with a high participation rate, a number of willing volunteers, and facilities catering for multiple sports.
The Masters Games 2025 run from 18 to 25 October. To find out more, visit Australian Masters Games.
