In recent years, World Masters Athletics has been talking with the International Masters Games Association about coordination of their respective showcase events — the WMA world outdoor championships and the World Masters Games. Originally, the World Masters Games were held in even-numbered years. In 2005, the WMG were held the same summer as WMA worlds. So Edmonton stole some thunder from San Sebastian. Not only did M50 sprint champ Bill Collins go to Edmonton, but the money went there also. Big money.

The Edmonton Journal on Saturday reported that the World Masters Games made the Alberta city more than $34 million (Canadian). That’s almost $30 million (U.S.)
Of course, a multisport festival attracts way more athletes than a one-sport event. But wow! This story is an eye-opener:
City wins gold with World Masters Games
Economic impact of $36.4 million more than double predicted for last summer’s spectacle
By Keith Gerein, The Edmonton Journal
Last summer’s World Masters Games proved to be a pecuniary powerhouse, generating an economic benefit that far surpassed even the most optimistic projections, a beaming group of organizers announced Friday.
According to research conducted by Deloitte and Touche, the Games were responsible for pumping $70.3 million into the Canadian economy last year, including $36.4 million that went to the Edmonton region.
Initial estimates were for less than half those amounts: a $31-million benefit for Canada and $15.4 million for Edmonton.
“Absolutely staggering,” Mayor Stephen Mandel said of the numbers.
“The impact from $70.3 million is pretty spectacular. Four years ago, when we were planning this, I don’t think anybody would have had the nerve to predict that.”
Mandel said the economic boon from the Games was likely one of the largest in Edmonton’s history, surpassing the totals generated by other recent sporting events, such as the 2005 Brier, the 2004 Canadian figure skating championships, the 2002 U-19 women’s world soccer championships and the 2002 Grey Cup.
Only the 2001 World Championships in Athletics may have had a greater financial impact on the city, he said.
“This proves yet again that Edmonton and Alberta are winners in the area of international sport,” said Gary Mar, provincial community development minister.
“The World Masters Games was the premiere sporting event in Alberta’s centennial year. It was a feast of sport and culture that brought thousands of people to our province and allowed thousands of Albertans to celebrate with them.”
Mar said the economic benefits were tremendous considering that the Games were put on with a relatively small operating budget of $15 million.
Billed as the world’s biggest multi-sport festival, the 10-day event held last July saw 21,600 non-professional athletes competing in 27 different sports. About 7,300 of the participants were from other countries.
Although local hotels, restaurants and shops were the major beneficiary of those guests, many of the overseas visitors wound up taking extended holidays to other parts of Canada.
Both Mandel and Mar said the Games’ success can be used as a selling point to attract other major international events. While there was no talk of immediately bidding again for the World Masters Games, Mandel said the city is excited about being a host for the 2007 U-19 men’s soccer championship and hopes to land an LPGA event and the 2011 Universiade Games.
“You can’t have these things every year,” Mandel said. “It’s expensive and takes an incredible commitment. There’s only so much you can feasibly do and do effectively. The last thing you want to do is have a poor event.”
Mar suggested that Edmonton’s stature as a moderately sized city may be one of the reasons why it has such a strong track record of hosting big competitions.
“When you have an event like the World Masters Games in a city the size of Edmonton, everybody in town knows about it,” he said. “If you take it to a city of many millions of people, the impact of it, and the municipal involvement, would be greatly diluted.”
BY THE NUMBERS: WORLD MASTERS GAMES
— Benefit of Games to Canadian economy (original estimate): $31.1 million
— Benefit of Games to Canadian economy (actual): $70.3 million
— Benefit of Games to Edmonton economy (original estimate): $15.4 million
— Benefit of Games to Edmonton economy (actual): $36.4 million
— Operating budget for Games: $15 million
— Number of participants in Games (original estimate): 16,000
— Number of participants in Games (actual): 21,600
— Athletes from Canada: 14,267
— Athletes from United States: 1,973
— Athletes from other countries: 5,360
— Average number of nights Games participants stayed in Edmonton: 9
— Percentage of athletes from other countries (excluding U.S.) who extended their stay in Canada to pursue other travel and tourist opportunities: 55 per cent
— Average expenditure during these extended holidays: $6,000
— Number of countries represented at Games: 89
Estimated economic impact of other recent sporting events:
— The 2001 World Championships in Athletics: $157 million to Edmonton.
— The 2004 Canadian figure skating championships: $7 million to Edmonton
— The 2005 Brier: $20 million to $25 million to Edmonton
Me again:
Since WMA is perpetually on the edge of insolvency, no wonder the Council (especially late Prez Torsten Carlius) was kissing up to IMGA. But is selling WMA’s soul (and control of its own world championships) to IMGA worth the shekels it might make in return? Tough question. Maybe it is time for WMA to jump naked into bed with IMGA in return for a boost in revenues.
Such revenues could be used to expand the sport of masters athletics, underwrite critical needs such as a real-time world rankings and meet calendars with speedy results, and maybe add prize money down the line.
I don’t know why Bill Collins chose Canada over Spain this past summer. Could have been a simple economic decision (Canada being closer to Texas). But I doubt it was for better competition.
Here are the results of the Edmonton and San Sebastian M50 sprints:
Spain WMA M50 100 final:
1. Stephen Peters GBR 11.48
2. Kerry Smith CAN 11.50
3. Thomas Dickson CAN 11.96
4. Walwyn Franklyn GBR 12.01
5. Viv Oliver GBR 12.02
6. John Browne GBR 12.19
7. Greoffrey Walcott GBR 12.23
8. Edward Gonera USA 12.28
Edmonton WMG M50 100:
1 Collins, Bill USA 11.61
2 Michelchen, Reinhard GER 11.76
3 Boyd, Barry CAN 11.88
4 Dickson, Thomas CAM 11.88
5 Riddle, Rick USA 12.48
6 Burton, Dave CAN 12.74
7 Chin Aleong, Neil CAN 12.96
Spain WMA M50 200 final:
1. Stephen Peters GBR 23.17
2. Kerry Smith CAN 23.40
3. Walwyn Franklyn GBR 24.35
4. Ian Broadhurst GBR 24.38
5. Viv Oliver GBR 24.45
5. Ryszard Nowakowski POL 24.45
7. Thomas Dickson CAN 24.78
8. Greoffrey Walcott GBR 24.87
Edmonton WMG M50 200 final:
1 Collins, Bill USA 23.49
2 Boyd, Barry CAN 24.66
3 Dickson, Thomas CAN 24.67
4 Riddle, Rick CAN 25.28
5 Freeman, Peter CAN 25.56
6 Pannell, Michael CAN 25.60
7 D’Eon, Marcel CAN 25.96
8 Jackson, Ron CAN 30.42
Yeah, I know. It’s unfair to compare same distances at different meets. Different tracks, conditions, weather, etc. But I can’t help but wonder what might have been had Dr. Peters (and Kerry Smith) tangled with Collins. The greatest M50 race of all time? Maybe.
But at least we wouldn’t have to ask these what-if questions.
As long as the IMGA and WMA run competing events, we have to live with split decisions on who’s the fastest man over 50 (or 60 or 80). We also can be left to wonder what money WMA is leaving on the table (in Canadian or U.S. dollars).