The Commonwealth Games are an exciting event on the Commonwealth’s calendar, uniting the Commonwealth countries in a celebration of sport and human performance.
Held every four years, (except for during World War II), the Games have grown from featuring 11 countries and 400 athletes, to a global spectacle of 4,600 sports men and women from across 72 nations and territories.
This year, the Commonwealth Games are being held in Birmingham, UK, and in 2026, Victoria, Australia.
However, there is yet to be a Commonwealth event which celebrates older people’s sporting achievements.
World Veteran sports
Globally, older athletes continue to achieve on the track and field at events such as the World Masters Games, Winter World Masters Games, European Masters Games, Pan American Masters Games, and Asia Pacific Masters Games, all organised by The International Masters Games Association. (Images from the International Masters Games Association Flickr account.)
And many countries also hold their own national Masters sporting events.
Commonwealth Masters Games Concept
We believe the introduction of veterans’ sporting events to the Commonwealth would be entirely consistent with the aspirations for integrated and multigenerational civil society development envisaged by the Sustainable Development Goals being pursued by the countries of the Commonwealth.
With this in mind, we have prepared a concept note for consideration by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and the Commonwealth Sports Ministers meeting in 2022.
Our paper is intended to provide a basis for the opening of a dialogue between us, the CGF and the Commonwealth Sports community with the aim of bringing to life the idea of The Commonwealth Masters Games.
Healthy Ageing
Many older people continue to play sport, and there shouldn’t be an assumption that older adults can’t excel on the track and field, and any other sporting arena; we need to breakdown stereotypes and actively encourage older adults to be more involved in sport and activity.
In doing so, younger athletes can learn from their older, and experienced counterparts, who in turn will inspire and encourage younger people to excel.
We believe strongly in the importance of the promotion of Healthy Ageing. As longevity increases through modern healthcare and medical interventions that challenge chronic disease, it is important, for the wellbeing of societies and their populations, that citizens are supported and enabled to live healthy and fulfilling lives that keep them engaged with, and contributing to, their communities. Healthy citizens are less costly to support than those whose abilities are reduced by the ageing process.
Keeping ageing populations healthy reduces the burden on state support in health systems and ensures that the capacity for economic contribution amongst elders is maintained.
Join us in uniting the generations and making positive changes to older people’s lives across the Commonwealth.
We are a charity, and we believe in an all-age friendly Commonwealth in which ageism is challenged and the contributions of people of all ages are valued. We believe that the strongest societies are those that combine the energy, vitality and potential of younger people with the wisdom and experience of elders.
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