The Pan-American Masters Games returns July 12-21, 2024 and will be held in Cleveland, Ohio. This marks the first event since its inaugural competition in 2016 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Here’s what I know so far about our favorite events:
- Cycling
- Criterium
- Road Race
- Venue: Cleveland Metroparks Brecksville Nature Center, 9000 Chippewa Rd, Brecksville, OH 44141
- Time Trial
- Venue: Valley Parkway, North Olmstead, OH 44070
- Mountain Bike
- Venue: Cleveland Metroparks Bedford Reservation
- Race Walk
- Distances: 1500 meters & 3,000 meters
- Venue: Baldwin Wallace University track & field, 141 E. Bagley Rd, Berea
- Triathlon
- Date: Sunday, July 14
- Venue: Lake Erie and Downtown Cleveland
Full details including dates, distances, formats, and venues will be announced at a later date. Bookmark this page or sign up for the Divas’ Digest newsletter to get the latest updates!
Let your running friends know about the 10K road race and half marathon that cap off the competition on Sunday, July 21.
What are the Pan-American Masters Games?
The multisport competition is for people ages 30 or better, and is open to all levels of ability. Parasport/adaptive athletes are welcome to compete in several sports including 10K road race (running), road race cycling, time trial cycling, and triathlon.
Athletes are eligible to compete in up to three sports and five disciplines.
The organizer, the International Masters Games Association, will work with the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission to produce the competition. The sports program includes 26 sports and 30 disciplines with 11 parasport contests.
International Masters Games Association (IMGA)
So what is the IMGA? From its website: “Founded in 1995 to support the Olympic movement and ‘sport for all’ philosophy, the IMGA is a non-profit organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee…the World Masters Games, is officially the world’s largest international participatory multi-sport event. It takes place every four years, attracting tens of thousands of athletes to new locations.
The International Masters Games Association first brought this competition to the Americas in 2016 with the then-named Americas Masters Games. Vancouver, British Columbia, was the host city. The 2020 event, renamed Pan-American Masters Games, was to be hosted in Rio de Janeiro but was cancelled due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The organization produces four other competitions:
- World Masters Games – May 5-30, 2025, Taipei, Taiwan | May 14 – 30, 2027, Kansai, Japan
- European Masters Games – info not yet announced
- Asia-Pacific Masters Games – info not yet announced
- Winter World Masters Games – Jan. 12-21, 2024, Lombardy, Italy
Will You Add This to Your 2024 Calendar?
I’m adding the Pan-American Masters Games to my 2024 planning calendar. Though I may not make it because I want to qualify for the 2025 National Senior Games in Des Moines, IA, I do want to follow the action. Yes, I’ll post the race walk, cycling, and triathlon results here on Slowpoke Divas!
Whatcha think? Share your thoughts over on Slowpoke Divas’ Facebook page (or via my website’s contact form).
Original post was titled “Inaugural Americas Masters Games Set for Vancouver, B.C.” and published July 13, 2015. This article has been updated for the 2024 event.
What are your thoughts? Share them here!