Abstract

Since its earliest days in the 1970’s and 1980’s, the Masters athletics movement has been growing and gaining strength around the world. The various aspects and dimensions of this development include the numbers of participants, the size and economic impact of competition events, and public interest in the phenomenon of Masters athletics. As in other parts of the sport, there are issues and challenges to be faced starting with understanding the motivation for individuals to become and stay involved, the development of specific training methodologies, doping control and even the organisational structure of the sport. For this Roundtable, London-based NSA contributor Jimson Lee, himself a Masters athlete but also a coach and the founder of the website www.SpeedEndurance.com, has asked five leading figures in the movement for their views an the key issues and where they Masters athletics is headed in the future. Their responses provide an interesting cross-section of views within the movement. The following questions are dealt with: 1. What do you see as the main benefits of Masters athletics or competition? In other words, why should someone take part and how can we get that message to more people? 2. Masters athletics benefits from elite athletes competing into their late 30s and early 40s as open athletes. Kim Collins, Bernard Lagat, and Merelene Ottey come to mind as role models. What can we do to encourage this more? 3. Are there any emerging trends in training or preparation of Masters athletes that are likely to have a major impact? 4. What do you see as the next stage in the development of Master athletics, how does the sport grow or improve from where it is now? 5. What are the main threats or issues that the Masters movement must address? 6. What is your view on current organisation of Masters athletics and the relationship between Masters championships and the World Masters Games? How would you like to see the situation develop? 7. What is your opinion on the TUE (Therapeutic Use Exemption). Eveybody is different with their use of medicines that may be illegal. How level do we really have to make the playing field? (Textauszug)