Innsbruck, April 27, 2017: In January 2020 the city of Innsbruck will host the Winter World Masters Games for the first time. In cooperation with the touristic partners, the date for this major international sports event in the heart of the Alps has now been confirmed. The Winter World Masters Games 2020 will take place from 10 to 19 January 2020.

The Winter World Masters Games 2020 are the final missing chapter in the long and proud Olympic winter sports history of Innsbruck and the surrounding Tyrol region. Jens Holm, secretary general of the International Masters Games Association, met with vice mayor Christoph Kaufmann and head of the organising committee, Georg Spazier, during a recent visit to Innsbruck to discuss preparations for the Winter World Masters Games 2020, which will take place both in the regional capital Innsbruck and the nearby winter resort of Seefeld.

“We are delighted that Innsbruck will follow in the footsteps of Bled (Slovenia) and Quebec City (Canada) by hosting the Winter World Masters Games in around two and a half years’ time. As a region, the Tyrol has enormous experience and expertise in organising major sports events, particularly those featured in the Olympic programme, and our excellent initial discussions with the team here were decisive in our decision to award the 2020 Games to Innsbruck,” explains Jens Holm.

In cooperation with partners from the tourism industry, the organising committee has confirmed the exact time period during which the event will take place. “The Winter World Masters Games 2020 will be held from 10 to 19 January 2020. That is a period which is ideal for all parties involved. If you look at the number of people taking part, the World Masters Games are the biggest multi-sport event in the world.

Our close cooperation with regional partners and the participation of several thousand athletes in the Games will have a positive effect on the local economy and highlight that Innsbruck and the Tyrol are one of the top locations in the world for major winter sports events,” adds Georg Spazier, CEO of the innsbruck-tirol sports GmbH (ITS) and head of the organising committee.

A snowflake of apostrophes
During the meeting the logo for the Winter World Masters Games 2020 was presented to the public for the first time. Created by local designers, it symbolises winter, dynamism, community, diversity and sport. In reference to the five Olympic Rings, the logo is a snowflake made up of five apostrophes – the apostrophe features prominently in the official logo of the city of Innsbruck – and the words “Winter World Masters Games Innsbruck 2020”.

Different shades of blue and varying degrees of transparency make the logo appear as light as a snowflake and as fresh as an ice crystal. Both Georg Spazier and Jens Holm are delighted with the result: “The logo suits Innsbruck and the Winter World Masters Games perfectly. You can see straight away what it stands for. The logo is very recognisable and will blend in perfectly with the city surroundings in the run-up to the games in 2019 and 2020.”

Sporting competitions for athletes in their late 20s and over
“We are delighted to have the honour of hosting the Winter World Masters Games,” says Innsbruck’s vice mayor, Christoph Kaufmann, who is also responsible for sport in the city council. Following the Olympic Games in 1964 and 1976 and the Youth Olympic Games in 2012, the Masters Games are a great addition to Innsbruck’s portfolio of major international sports events.

The sporting world will once again turn its eyes to Innsbruck, and the Games will give us the opportunity to prove once again our experience and expertise in organising large-scale sports events.”

Around 3,000 athletes from around the world will gather in Innsbruck in January 2020 to compete in up to 12 disciplines. Among the disciplines already confirmed for the 2020 Games are Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Curling, Ice Hockey, Ski Jumping, Speed Skating, Figure Skating and Biathlon. The athletes themselves must organise and finance their own travel and accommodation.

True to the mottos “sport for all” and “sport for life”, the World Masters Games encourage people of all ages to practise sport and stay active. As such, the Games are open to all competitors who meet the minimum age requirements in their respective disciplines. There is no upper age limit.

The Games strive to create shared cultural and social experiences, to foster friendships and mutual understanding between people with a passion for sport – regardless of their age, gender, ethnic background, religion or sporting ability – and to encourage participants to achieve their personal best.

The organising committee behind the Winter World Masters Games 2020
The Winter World Masters Games 2020 will be organised by the innsbruck-tirol sports GmbH (ITS), a limited liability company created after the successful organisation of the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games by the Innsbruck-Tirol Olympische Jugendspiele 2012 GmbH. The ITS was responsible for the International Children’s Games (ICG), which took place in Innsbruck in January 2016, and is now looking forward to planning and coordinating the Winter World Masters Games 2020.

The International Children’s Games in early 2016 was used as an opportunity to create Austria’s first long-term volunteer pool. This volunteer team tirol, which comprises experienced volunteers with a wide range of skillsets, will also be supporting the Winter World Masters Games and make a major contribution to the success of the event.

More information soon available at www.innsbruck2020.com
Visit the website of the innsbruck-tirol sports GmbH: www.innsbrucktirolsports.com
Visit the website of the volunteer team tirol: www.volunteerteam.tirol —- Photo: innsbruck-tirol sports GmbH