Greetings, all World Masters Athletics has posted the particulars of how a city can bid to host the biennial world masters track championships at:
http://www.world-masters-athletics.org/index.php?id=laws&l=bidder01 Also posted is a sample contract between the host Organizing Committee and WMA: http://www.world-masters-athletics.org/content/contract.pdf I've updated my News report on the subject at: http://www.masterstrack.com/news2002/news2002june20a.html The bottom line is that only the WINNING bid city is out $150,000 (plus other expenses) if it hosts the world masters meet -- not EVERY bid city, as previously suggested. My misunderstanding arose from how USATF Masters Committee Chairman George Mathews worded a report on this subject. In fact, a host city that attracts 6,000 athletes (a plausible figure) can generate revenues of $90,000 from a $15 surcharge added to the entry fee. Thus the host city would have to pay WMA $60,000 net (along with other costs of putting the 15-member WMA Council up in hotels and feeding them breakfast during the meet.) Certainly, $60,000-plus isn't cheap. But the WMA meet went big-time long ago, and perhaps this amount isn't as onerous as USATF Masters believes. Obviously, the Sacramento Sports Commission is laying out a pretty penny as host of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials. (See http://www.sacsports.com/ ) Does Sacramento fully understand the nuances of the WMA sanction fee? Or does it have the wrong idea that I previously did -- that ALL bidders for the WMA meet have to spend $150K up front for a chance to secure the event? Anyone have any wisdom on this matter? Ken Stone http://www.masterstrack.com
