The Sydney 2009 World Masters Games, the seventh edition of a four–yearly event that has developed into the world’s largest multi-sport event in terms of participation,[1] was held from 10 October to 18 October 2009 in Sydney, the largest city in Australia and the capital city of New South Wales.
Open to sportspeople of all abilities and most ages – the minimum age criterion ranges between 25 and 35 years depending on the sport – the Sydney 2009 World Masters Games included competitors from more than 100 countries who competed in 28 sports.
Many of the Sydney 2009 World Masters Games sports competitions took place at 2000 Olympic Games venues, something that was not the case to any significant degree at any of the previous six World Masters Games. The Sydney International Regatta Centre, the Sydney International Shooting Centre and several Sydney Olympic Park facilities, including the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, the Sydney Olympic Park Archery Centre and the Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre to list just three, were just some of the sites at which Sydney 2009 World Masters Games competitors competed.
The Sydney 2009 World Masters Games featured 28 sports – 15 core sports that are mandatory for all events under the auspices of the International Masters Games Association and 13 optional sports that the Sydney 2009 World Masters Games Organising Committee proposed to the International Masters Games Association.
| Sport | Minimum age | Venue(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 30 | Sydney Olympic Park Archery Centre (target), The Armory (field), Five Dock Leisure Centre (indoor), to be advised (clout) | |
| Athletics | 30 | Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre Map | |
| Badminton | 35 | Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre Map | |
| Baseball | 35 | Blacktown Olympic Park Baseball Complex, Corbin Reserve | |
| Basketball | 30 | Hills Sports Stadium, Bankstown Basketball Stadium, Menai Indoor Sports Centre, Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre, Sutherland Leisure Centre, Thornleigh Indoor Sports Centre | |
| Canoeing/Kayaking | 30 | Penrith Whitewater Stadium (canoe polo and slalom), Sydney International Regatta Centre (flatwater), Nepean River (marathon) | |
| Cycling | 30 | Dunc Gray Velodrome (track and women's criterium), Lansdowne Park (men's criterium), Eastern Creek Raceway & Western Sydney International Dragway(individual time trial and road race) | |
| Diving | 25 | Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre | |
| Football | 30 | Valentine Sports Park, Bernie Mullane Sports Complex, Fred Caterson Reserve | |
| Golf | 35 | ||
| Hockey | 35 | Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre, Cintra Park Hockey Centre, The Crest Hockey Centre | |
| Lawn bowls | 30 | Birrong Bowling and Sports Club | |
| Netball | 35 | Anne Clark Netball Centre Map, Parramatta Auburn Netball Association Courts | |
| Orienteering | 35 | Lithgow (long), Sydney (sprint) | |
| Rowing | 27 | Sydney International Regatta Centre | |
| Rugby union | 30 for women and 35 for men | TG Millner Field, Macquarie University Sports Fields | |
| Sailing | 35 | Woollahra Sailing Club, Dobroyd Aquatic Club | |
| Shooting | 30 | Sydney International Shooting Centre | |
| Softball | 30 | Blacktown Olympic Park Softball Centre, Jacqui Osmond Softball Centre, Kelso Park North Softball Complex | |
| Squash | 35 | Dural Squash and Fitness Centre, Thornleigh Squash and Fitness Centre | |
| Surf lifesaving | 30 | Manly Beach (subject to Council approval) | |
| Swimming | 25 | Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre (pool), Chowder Bay (open water) | |
| Table tennis | 30 | Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre | |
| Tennis | 30 | Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre, Cintra Park | |
| Touch football | 30 | St Marys Leagues Club, The Kingsway Playing Fields | |
| Volleyball | 30 | Sydney Olympic Park Sports Halls (indoor) Map, Maroubra Beach (beach) | |
| Water polo | 30 | Ryde Aquatic Leisure Centre, MLC School Aquatic Centre, Ashfield Aquatic Centre | |
| Weightlifting | 35 | Sydney Olympic Park, Southee Complex |
Appointed by the New South Wales Government to advise the New South Wales Minister for Sport and Recreation and the Chief Executive Officer of the Sydney 2009 World Masters Games Organising Committee on all aspects of the planning and staging of the Sydney 2009 World Masters Games, the Sydney 2009 World Masters Games Advisory Committee, as of March 2009, comprised these seven people:
| Position | Name | Other roles | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | Margy Osmond | Chief Executive Officer of the Australian National Retailers Association | |
| Member | Phil Coles AM | Member of the International Olympic Committee, Vice President of the World Taekwondo Federation | |
| Member | Bob Elphinston OAM | President of the International Basketball Federation | |
| Member | Michelle Ford-Eriksson MBE | 1980 Summer Olympic Games gold medallist | |
| Member | Chris Jordan AO | Chairman of KPMG New South Wales | |
| Member | John Moore | Managing Director of the Global Brands Group Australasia | |
| Member | David Brettell | Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Cancer Research Foundation |
Headed by Shane O'Leary, the Sydney 2009 World Masters Games Organising Committee comprised five divisions with, as of March 2009, its key personnel being:
| Position | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Executive Officer | Shane O'Leary | |
| Chief Operating Officer | Lynne Bates AM | |
| Group Manager, Games Services | James Hunter | |
| Group Manager, Finance and Corporate Services | Sally Judd | |
| Group Manager, Marketing | Rod Dowler | |
| Group Manager, Communications & Media | Natalie Saltyskewer | |
| Group Manager, Sport and Venues | Nick Jordan |