Outline of the Games
The World Masters Games 2021 Kansai has been postponed due to the COVID-19, but we have decided on the new Games name and new session period as follows.
New session period: 17 days from Friday, May 14, 2027 to Sunday, May 30, 2027
New Games name: World Masters Games 2027 Kansai Japan
We are currently making preparations and adjustments for the Games, and plan to announce the competition guidelines in the fall of 2025 and begin accepting entries in the spring of 2026.
Please note that the followings are the information before the postponement was confirmed.
The World Masters Games are an international multi-sport athletic competition held every four years by the International Masters Games Association (IMGA) for athletes over the age of 30 and into their middle age and senior years.
The games are held in the year following the Olympics. The first World Masters Games were held in 1985 in Toronto, Canada.The latest Games (the 9th hosting) took place in Auckland, New Zealand in the year 2017.
In 2021 (Postponed to 2022) the Games will be held in Japan, the first hosting in Asia. This auspicious 10th hosting will be in the western part of Japan—the Kansai region.
| Name | World Masters Games 2021 KANSAI |
|---|---|
| Organizer | The Organizing Committee of the World Masters Games 2021 Kansai |
| Co-organizer | Japan Sport Association, Japanese Para Sports Association |
| Supporters | Japan Sports Agency |
| Dates | Friday, 13th – Sunday, 29th May, 2022 (17 days) |
| Sport & Discipline (59 disciplines of 35 sports) |
Archery(Outdoor Archery/Indoor Archery), Athletics(Track & Field/10 km Road Race/Half Marathon/EKIDEN/Race walking), Badminton, Baseball(Baseball/Rubber Baseball), Basketball, Canoe(Marathon/Sprint/Slalom/Polo/Dragon Boat), Cycling(Track/Road Race/Mountain Bike/BMX), Dance Sports, Football(Football/Futsal), Flying Disc(Ultimate), Gateball, Golf, Ground Golf, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Karate, Lifesaving, Orienteering(Sprint/Forest), Rowing, Rugby, Sailing(Sailing/Windsurfing), Shooting(Clay/Rifle), Softball, Soft Tennis, Squash, Swimming(Swimming/Diving/Water Polo/Artistic Swimming/Open Water), Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Tenpin Bowling, Triathlon(Triathlon/Aquathlon/Duathlon), Tug of War, Volleyball(Indoor/Beach Volleyball), Weightlifting |
| Showcase sports (34 sports) ※Sports to be held for both purpose of raising mood towards 2021 and providing more opportunity to join in WMG. |
Disc Golf<Fukui>, Paddle Tennis/Trail Running<Shiga>, Sports Climbing<Kyoto>, Rowing/Wheelchair Softball, Wellness Darts<Osaka>, Baton Twirling/Igo Ball/Lawn Bowls/Nordic Walking/Petanque/Walking/Para-Sports(Wheelchair Basketball, Rolling Volleyball, Boccia)/Rowing<Hyogo>, KIN-BALL sport/Kanreki Baseball<Nara>, Beach Rugby/Sport Wellness Fukiya<Wakayama>, Ground Golf/Marathon/Triathlon/SEA TO SUMMIT(Kayaking + Cycling + Mountain Climbing)<Tottori>, Billiard/Marathon/Rafting/Rubber Baseball/Surfing/Touch Rugby<Tokushima>, Double Dutch/Petanque<Kyoto city>, Triathlon<Osaka city>, Flag Football/Walking<Kobe city> |
| Venues | The Kansai region For details regarding the sporting events and venues, please visit here. |
| Anticipated number of participants |
Approximately 50,000 participants Participants from outside Japan: 20,000 Participants from within Japan: 30,000 (For reference: approx. 30,000 participants for 2009 Sydney Games; approx. 20,000 for 2013 Torino Games; and approx. 30,000 for 2017 Auckland Games |
| Application period | February, 2020 – February, 2022 (Proposed) |
