Our Foundation
About the Masters
Games Foundation
Three decades of championing athletic excellence, inclusion, and the lifelong pursuit of sport — for every athlete, every nation, every age.
Who We Are
A Foundation Built on Passion
The Masters Games Foundation was established to provide the organisational backbone for masters sport globally — connecting athletes, federations, governments and sponsors in service of a single vision: sport for life.
Our Mission
To promote, develop and facilitate masters sport worldwide — ensuring every athlete aged 30+ has access to world-class competition, regardless of background, ability or nationality.
Our Vision
A world where sport transcends age — where masters athletes are celebrated as role models, their achievements recognised and their contributions to public health honoured globally.
Our Values
Excellence in sport and governance · Integrity in all we do · Inclusion across nations and abilities · Sustainability for future generations.
Our History
Thirty Years of
Athletic Legacy
Masters Games Foundation Established
A small group of visionaries established the Foundation in Cape Town with a mission to create world-class sporting events for athletes aged 30 and over.
Inaugural African Masters Games
The first African Masters Games welcomed 1 200 athletes from 22 nations across 18 sports disciplines in Johannesburg, South Africa.
International Recognition
The Foundation became an official affiliate of the International Masters Games Association (IMGA), gaining full recognition for all sanctioned events.
Decade of Growth
Membership grew to 10 000 registered athletes across 54 nations. The Foundation expanded to include winter sports and extreme disciplines.
Hosting the World Masters Games
The Foundation co-hosted the World Masters Games for the first time, welcoming 30 000 athletes from 92 nations to South Africa.
World Masters Games — Cape Town
Hosting the largest-ever Masters Games with 35 000+ athletes. A celebration of 32 years of growth, passion and sporting excellence.
What We Do
Our Pillars of Work
Event Organisation
We deliver world-class sporting events — from intimate national championships to the global World Masters Games. Every event is designed to the highest technical and athlete-experience standards.
Federation Development
We support national sports federations in developing masters programmes, providing governance frameworks, event templates, and access to international competition pathways.
Research & Advocacy
We partner with universities and health organisations to document the science of masters sport — advocating for public health policy that encourages active ageing and lifelong participation.
Youth Bridge Programme
We operate programmes that connect younger athletes (25–30) with masters mentors, ensuring a pipeline of participants and preserving the knowledge and traditions of sport across generations.
Inclusion & Access
Our bursary and travel grant programme has enabled athletes from 34 developing nations to compete internationally. No one should be excluded from masters sport due to financial barriers.
Records & Rankings
We maintain the official Masters Games age-group records database across 120+ disciplines, working with IMGA and international federations to verify and publish world and continental records.
Partners & Affiliates
Supported by Global Leaders
We work with international sports bodies, governments, sponsors and health organisations to deliver masters sport at the highest level.
IMGA
International Masters Games Association — Official Governance Body
World Athletics
Official partner for Masters athletics events worldwide
WHO Sport Initiative
World Health Organization active ageing programme partner
Sport & Recreation SA
South African Department of Sport & Recreation — Host Nation Partner
Interested in partnering with the Masters Games Foundation?
Become a Partner →Our Impact
Measuring What Matters
Member Nations
Registered Athletes
Bursaries Awarded
World Records Set
Join Our Global Community
Whether you're an athlete, federation, sponsor or supporter — there's a place for you in the Masters Games family.