Posted: August 3, 2004

Athletics: Vancouver withdraws as host city for the 2006 WMA World Championships

The WMA 2006 World Masters Championships Non-Stadia were awarded to Vancouver, CAN, but we have now been informed that Vancouver wants to withdraw as organiser. It is sad but their final decision is taken.

The WMA Council discussed the future of our World Championships Non-Stadia in San Sebastian in March this year as we have seen a declining number of athletes and countries participating. The Council has decided to forward a proposal to the WMA General Assembly in San Sebastian, ESP, the next year that the Non-Stadia Championships be removed and the events be split between the Stadia and the Indoor Championships.

Now that Vancouver withdraws the Council proposal will be to remove the World Championships Non-Stadia from 2006. Our Non-Stadia Committee has been asked to present a proposal to the Council by end of September how the Non-Stadia events can best be split (or removed) between the Stadia and the Indoor Champioships which will be the basis for the Council proposal.

Masters events in IAAF World Championships in Helsinki 2005

Helsinki, FIN, will host the 10th IAAF World Championships in August the next year. Our WMA Affiliate in Finland, the Finnish Veterans Athletic Association, have negotiated with the LOC to include some masters events in the IAAF programme and it is with very great pleasure we can now announce that these negotiations have led to 11 masters event finals to be organised in the Helsinki Olympic Stadium on August 13 during the marathon race.

The Finnish Association invites to the 1st Masters Athletics GP in the city of Lahti on August 10-12, 2005, as part of the celebration of "Lahti 100 years". All age-groups will be on the program and of the total competition program 11 finals will be organised in Helsinki Olympic Stadium on August 13. For athletes this will be a good test opportunity before the WMA World Masters Championships start in San Sebastian on August 23.

All information of these 1st Masters Athletics GP and the finals in Helsinki is to be found on the LOC website: www.lahdenahkera.fi.

Last entry date is July 1, 2005.

The World Masters website is at: www.world-masters-athletics.org/.