Masters spotlight shines on Auckland's sporting venues

Ruth Frith aged 100 competes in the Throws Pentathlon during the Sydney 2009 World Masters Games. Photo / Getty Images

World Games in 2017 to benefit region, with 25,000 competitors competing over 45 grounds, including lesser sports sites such as Carlton Cornwall Bowls Club and Lloyd Elsmore Park

Some of Auckland's lesser-known sportsgrounds are among the venues announced today for the World Masters Games to be held in 2017.

Among the 45 venues are mainstays on the national sporting landscape such as Lake Karapiro, North Harbour Stadium and the ASB Showgrounds. But the likes of small venues around the Auckland region, including the Carlton Cornwall Bowls Club, Lloyd Elsmore Park and the Mt Roskill War Memorial Park, will also feature.

The chief executive of World Masters Games 2017, Jennah Wootten, said the event would be a "truly local games".

"With 45 venues across Auckland and the Waikato, touching all corners of the city, we hope the benefits of the games, including social and economic benefit, will extend into our communities," she said.

"We hope all of Auckland will experience what is likely to be the country's biggest event in a decade."

Games spokeswoman Jill Dryden said organisers were expecting 25,000 competitors. Half would be from overseas, from 100 countries. The average age is usually 42.

The games, which are staged every four years, would feature 28 sports and 45 disciplines, including waka ama within the canoe/kayak category and Weta-class sailing to give the event a New Zealand feel.

Ms Dryden said the event would attract former Olympians from New Zealand and overseas, among them Hamish Carter, Anthony Mosse and Allison Roe, who are games ambassadors.

She said these athletes were likely to compete in events they did not specialise in.

"All of them are going to be competing, most of them are looking at possibly competing in a different sport from what they were successful in as an elite athlete."

The venue for the opening and closing ceremonies is likely to be decided by the middle of next year.