January 18, 2015 (Québec City) – Nearly 1,500 athletes and their entourages are coming to Québec City from the four corners of the planet to compete in the Winter World Masters Games, January 31 to February 8, 2015. Competitors aged 30 and over will participate in multiple events for biathlon, cross-country skiing, Alpine skiing, long track speed skating, ice hockey, curling, winter triathlon, snow shoeing and climbing.

Québec City’s reputation as a winter capital has attracted master athletes from around the world. In fact, most of the participants will be from outside Québec, including 25% from Europe and Asia. For example, a Mongolian delegation (10 athletes, accompanied by 16 members of their entourage) will compete in the short and long track skating and cross-country skiing events.

Québec City will also welcome a delegation of 30 Russians, 19 of whom will participate in the biathlon and cross-country skiing competitions. Finland will be represented by 17 participants, including 11 biathletes, while 11 Slovakians will compete in the biathlon and cross-country skiing events.

Other international athletes will include 6 Australians, 14 Germans, 11 Italians, 10 Norwegians, 7 Netherlanders, 22 French, 2 Japanese, 2 British, 2 New Zealanders, and 1 athlete each from South Africa, China, Estonia, and Sweden. Our neighbor the United States is sending 86 participants, while 24% of the athletes will come from the Canadian provinces.

“With less than a year to organize this second edition of the Games, we are proud to host 1,500 athletes and supporters, most of whom are from outside Canada, right in the middle of the Québec Winter Carnival. We’re looking forward to the start of competition. For the organizing committee, the clock is already ticking. We have only 18 days to go before the opening ceremony in Bonhomme Carnaval’s palace, after a short athletes parade through the streets of Québec City,” explained the chair of the Winter World Masters Games board of directors, Serge Ferland.

About the Winter Games
Nearly 20 countries will be represented at the Winter World Masters Games in Québec City, January 31 to February 8, 2015. Biathlon, curling, hockey, short and long track skating, marathon skating, downhill and cross-country skiing, triathlon, and snowshoeing (demonstration sport) will all be on the program. This is the second edition of the Winter World Masters Games, organized by the International Masters Games Association (IMGA); the first edition was held in Bled, Slovenia in 2010.