THE FREMANTLE MASTERS GAMES 2009 - FESTIVAL

The Fremantle Masters Games is a biennial sporting event positioned to attract competitors and officials from across the state. The Games will provide four days of sporting competition in a variety of sporting codes, catering for a wide range of mature ages and sporting capabilities.

In September 2009, the City of Fremantle will again be host to the 5th Fremantle Masters Games promoting the development of sport in Western Australia.

The Principals of the Games are:

1. To promote the development of sport in the community of Western Australia.
2. To conduct the Games in the best interests of good sportsmanship.
3. To develop sporting opportunities for Fremantle and wider community members
4. To provide an opportunity to showcase Fremantle based sporting clubs and Associations.
5. To encourage increased participation through social/graded competitions.
6. To encourage improvement and support of Local Government sporting facilities.

Following the success of the inaugural Fremantle Masters Games held in 2001, the City Of Fremantle decided to hold the Games on a biennial basis. This is the only Masters Games event being held in the metropolitan area.

The benefit in Fremantle hosting such an event was that the Games would attract visitors from outside the Fremantle area. (Fremantle Masters Games attracted 88% from metropolitan area, 11 % country and 1% from interstate).

Overall the potential benefits of the Games to Fremantle included the tourism and economic benefit to the City and for the participants, the physical activity, having fun and enjoyment and providing opportunity for social interaction. In addition, feedback from the consultation for the preparation of the Fremantle Older Persons Policy suggested that greater encouragement of sport and recreation opportunities through the provision of such events was desirable, and saw the introduction of the “Be Active Aged Care Games” for nursing hostels.

A further development occurred at the 2003 Games, saw the Games expand into adjoining local government areas (Cockburn) giving additional venues to cater for the demand of additional sports and participants.

Overall the potential benefits of the Games to Fremantle include a boost in tourism and an economic benefit to the City. Benefits to the participants of the Games include physical activity, having fun and enjoyment and providing opportunity for social interaction.

From a participant survey taken during the 2007 Games, 97% of these participants stated that they enjoyed the experience with all of these people stating that they would consider competing in a further Masters Games competition in Fremantle. This support for the Games led the Fremantle Council to continue supporting the concept into 2009 for the fifth Games.

The 2009 Fremantle Masters Games to be conducted in the City of Fremantle and surrounding venues will provide four days of sporting competition and an opportunity for involvement by sports enthusiasts, including competitors and spectators. The Games will combine the elements of competition and sportsmanship with promotion of the City of Fremantle as a major tourist destination providing an opportunity to see places of interest, dine with friends or just enjoy the atmosphere.