Québec City To Host The World Masters Games

“Next winter’s World Winter Games will help Québec City further position itself as a world-class sports destination,” said Mr. Sylvain Légaré, Executive Committee member responsible for sports, recreation and community life.  “The international sports scene is growing increasingly aware of the many merits of our city, which opens the door for us to host another event of this caliber.”

A top-notch event

The World Masters Games have been held in the summer every four years for the past 20 years. Because of the huge success of its summer games, IMGA wanted to develop a winter edition. The first World Winter Games took place in Bled, Slovenia, and the second edition is slated for Québec City in 2015.

“I am more than delighted that the second World Masters Games will be held in Québec City, a quintessential winter sports playground. Québec City has proven in recent years that it has everything it takes to organize and host an event of this scale,” said Jens V. Holm, CEO of the International Masters Games Association.

With more than 3,000 athletes over age 30, the anticipated economic spinoffs of the event are estimated at between $6 million and $10 million.  The City of Québec will propose to the executive committee to have $900,000 in funding earmarked for the Québec City organizing committee. Claude Rousseau and Mario Bédard, two well-known sports figures in Québec City, have agreed to serve as honorary co-chairs for the event.

Following on the heels of the Québec ITU Winter Triathlon, the World Winter Masters Games are another concrete result of the SportAccord Convention.

A world-class sports destination

By hosting numerous international sporting events, Québec City is carving out an enviable position internationally. Apart from recurring events such as the Bell Challenge, Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec, SSQ Québec City Marathon, Snowboard Jamboree, and Québec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, the capital has hosted a number of top level events over the years:
- Junior Alpine Ski World Championships (2000, 2006, and 2013)
- World Police and Fire Games (2005)
- World Tumbling and Trampoline Championships (2007)
- World Ice Hockey Championship (2008)
- UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships (2010)
- World Beach Volleyball Circuit (2011)
- FIS Cross Country World Cup in the streets of Québec City, a first in North America (2012)
- Snowboard World Championships (2013)

All of this is now topped off by the prestigious World Masters Games, coming January 31 to February 8, 2015.