Is your armchair missing you? You were there with it the last few weeks for the Paris Olympics. If you are looking for an opportunity to continue that closeness, there is another opportunity to spend time with it and to stream some great competition from Gothenburg, Sweden.

The World Masters Athletics Championships are ongoing through August 25. Those participating include 7,000 participants from over 100 countries. They are athletes over the age of thirty-five (35) years. And, they include athletes from novices to elites.

I have been watching most closely the competition in the upper age groups and it is exciting. On the track, Karla Del Grande from Canada competing in the 70+ age group set a new world 100 meter record with a time of 14.70 seconds.

Another record setter, Jeannie Rice USA, ran the 5000 meter at 22:41:46. And this 10-day event has just begun.

Along with those who are setting world records are athletes like you and me. Maybe some are new to track and field, maybe they can no longer do the fast times but still love the competition, or maybe saw this event as a good reason to combine masters world athletics with their Nordic vacation.

All very good reasons, in my opinion.

You can follow along with the action from the web page or on their Facebook. I scrolled through the highlights in Roster Athletics and determined that I might not be on an age-group podium, but I also would not be left in the dust. Hmm, what is coming up in the next few years that would be a nice competition for me, a good reason to keep my training tune up, and a travel destination that might be interesting for family or friends.

What’s in the future? There are competitions you can find in 2025 in Taipei, Taiwan, and in 2026 in Daegu, South Korea. I’m holding out for 2027 for the Open Masters Series offered by International Masters Games Association in Como Lake, Italy. Then, I would be competing for the first time in the 80 years and older category. That may sound a bit optimistic, but why not? I’m penciling it in on my 2027 calendar.

Who out there has competed in any of the international masters competitions? What was your experience?