World Masters Games 2017 (WMG2017) continues to give back to amateur sport in Auckland, with 28 local sports organisations today receiving a further grant from the WMG2017 Legacy Fund.
WMG2017 created a huge buzz when it was held in Auckland in April 2017, with more than 28,000 participants taking part – more than an Olympic Games.
The event generated $34.2m and 241,480 visitor nights for the Auckland regional economy and was declared the ‘best ever’ by the rights holder, the International Masters Games Association.
WMG2017 also generated an $831,000 surplus. The event’s constitution required any surplus to be used for the promotion of amateur sport, with local organisations representing the 28 sports that made up WMG2017 benefiting through two rounds of grants.
Auckland Tourism, Events & Economic Development (ATEED) General Manager Destination Steve Armitage says that funding for many sporting organisations is a perennial issue, so it’s important that these grants continue to provide a lasting legacy for sport in Auckland.
“We’re delighted that WMG2017 is able to provide some welcome financial support to the very core of amateur sport in New Zealand, the grass-roots, giving back to those organisations that were integral to the successful delivery of the Games.”
The latest round of grants comes at the end of a two-month contestable application process. The 28 sports organisations were invited to request funding for activities that would benefit Auckland amateur sports such as bidding for and/or staging an event; capability building relating to events; infrastructure upgrades; purchasing sporting equipment; or strategic planning support.
A panel including representatives from ATEED, Auckland Council and Aktive – Auckland Sport & Recreation assessed the applications against criteria that included the benefit to sport in Auckland, the wider benefit to the community, and the ongoing legacy value that each initiative would have.
All 28 sports of WMG2017 made an application and all were successful, with funding awarded ranging from $10,000 to $15,400.
For the full list of funding recipients check out